Jefferson Opens New Pickleball Courts: A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Thursday afternoon to celebrate the opening of a new pickleball court in Russell Park in Jefferson, Iowa. The court project was made possible through donations, grants, and community support. No taxpayer money was used.
Community Joins to Celebrate
Many local groups attended the event, including the Jefferson Pickleball Committee, Jefferson City staff, Jefferson Matters Ambassadors, members of the Jefferson Garden Club, and relatives of the Radebaugh family. They all came together to officially open the two new pickleball courts.
Jean Van Gilder, a member of the Jefferson Pickleball Committee, expressed her amazement at how the project became real.
“Well, it’s one of those things where you dream it and you think ‘yeah, this is probably going to take a long time to get this much money accumulated to do it.’ But, between the donors, and the city of Jefferson, and Grow Greene County they made this all possible. It’s wonderful, we love it!” – (Jean Van Gilder)
How the Project Was Funded
The project began with a $40,000 donation from the Radebaugh family to be used for recreation in Jefferson. Over $82,000 was raised through private donations and pledges. A grant of $118,000 from the Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation helped complete the funding.
On June 11, 2024, the Jefferson City Council approved Caliber Concrete of Adair to handle construction. A groundbreaking event was held in August 2024, and work was finished by early May 2025.
First Players on the New Court
Jean Van Gilder was one of the first people to play on the completed court. She talked about watching the final steps of construction.
“We were here when they put the surface on and we’d been waiting for that for months. So we watched that and that was very interesting to watch. The way they do that with large squeegees, they move the paint around it. It was really cool. They waited for it to dry, came back and stripped it. And then the next day the young man (from Caliber) came and put the nets up, and we’re like, ‘Okay, this is it!’” – (Jean Van Gilder)
Benches Dedicated After Ceremony
After the ribbon cutting, the Jefferson Garden Club dedicated benches to the new pickleball court. Jean Van Gilder shared her happiness that the project was completed without using tax dollars.
Why It Matters
The new pickleball courts in Russell Park are a big win for the Jefferson community. The project shows how local people, organizations, and businesses can work together to create something meaningful. It gives residents a new space to be active, socialize, and enjoy the sport of pickleball.
News in Brief: Jefferson Opens New Pickleball Courts
Jefferson’s new pickleball courts at Russell Park opened Thursday with a ribbon cutting. Funded entirely through private donations and grants, the $217,301 project brings new recreation space to the city. Local groups and supporters gathered to celebrate the courts, which were built without using any taxpayer money.
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