Bluffton’s New Pickleball Courts: The Bluffton Parks Department is working to transform an underused space near Wells Community Pool into a vibrant community hub by adding new pickleball courts. With pickleball’s rapid rise in popularity, the department is raising $50,000 through a community fundraising campaign, with contributions being matched dollar-for-dollar by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.
Pickleball Courts to Revitalize Underused Space
The land near Wells Community Pool is mostly unused outside of summer, prompting Bluffton Parks Superintendent Brandy Fiechter to explore ways to make it more active year-round.
“Just making an underused space into a community hub.” – (Brandy Fiechter)
Pickleball quickly emerged as the best option after the department gauged interest on social media and received overwhelming support.
“Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, and Bluffton is no exception. We put it out on social media just to kind of get a feel for it if people were interested in having the courts and it was overwhelming very strong support for it.” – (Fiechter)
Community Fundraising Effort Underway
The Bluffton Parks Department has launched a 60-day fundraising campaign to secure $50,000 by May 6. Donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to the first $50,000, doubling the impact of community contributions.
“So, what’s going to happen is we will have a dollar for dollar match up to the first $50,000. So, we’ve just launched that campaign, it’s going to run for the next 60 days, and we hope to accomplish our goal of $50,000 by May 6th.” – (Fiechter)
If the goal is not met, Fiechter reassures residents that they will seek additional grant funding to ensure the courts are built.
“If we weren’t to get there, we would step in and seek additional grant funding to make sure that it happens. It’s something that our community really wants and we’re going to make sure it happens for them.” – (Fiechter)
Upgrades Also Coming to Wells Community Pool
The pickleball courts are part of a larger revitalization project at Wells Community Pool, which is set to undergo major upgrades, including:
- New slides
- A ninja warrior-style course
- A lazy river
The pool will be relocated next to the pickleball courts, ensuring both amenities can be used to maximize community engagement.
“We definitely wanted to have a dual use opportunity where we’re getting the most use out of the space. So having both amenities go in at the same time, we felt was meeting that need.” – (Fiechter)
A Community-Driven Vision
By transforming an underutilized area into a multi-use recreation space, Bluffton is ensuring that pickleball players and pool-goers benefit from the changes. With strong community support, the town is set to join the national pickleball movement while enhancing its recreational offerings.
News in Brief: Bluffton’s New Pickleball Courts
The Bluffton Parks Department is raising $50,000 to build new pickleball courts near Wells Community Pool. A 60-day fundraising campaign is underway, with donations matched dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000. The courts are part of a larger renovation project, including pool upgrades like slides, a lazy river, and a ninja course.
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