Copper Country Pickleball Tournament: Bridgefest in the Copper Country brought players and fans together this weekend with exciting pickleball matches held at Laurn Grove Park. The popular sport was added to the festival lineup after the city converted two old tennis courts into four dedicated pickleball courts in 2023. The courts quickly became a favorite for locals and visitors alike.
Pickleball Brings Energy to Laurn Grove
Pickleball players of all ages joined the action at Laurn Grove Park. The event ran smoothly, with one match happening at a time, allowing spectators to enjoy each game.
“So there’s only one match going on at a time. But it’s just wonderful to see spectators come by, everybody taking it all in. And it’s just really exciting. And the age, the variation in age, we’ve got youngsters playing and we’ve got adults who have been playing for decades,” said Mary Kaminski, tournament organizer for Bridgefest.
The addition of pickleball to Laurn Grove Park followed a growing interest in the sport after COVID-19. The four courts are now constantly in use, thanks to local efforts to keep the sport thriving.
“Betty McGinnis kind of runs that with a few other people, Rick Freeman helping her. Anyway, those four courts are full, and a lot of excitement. Has been, well, everybody has kind of started since the end of COVID, right? We could all get back to things,” said Mary Kaminski.
Pickleball’s Growing Role at Bridgefest
As part of Bridgefest’s lineup, pickleball has created new chances for people to play and connect. It reflects how the sport has become a key part of community events in the area.
Players looking to join the tournament could sign up through Mary Kaminski. The matches began Saturday morning and welcomed new and experienced players alike.
With so many people enjoying the courts and cheering from the sidelines, pickleball is expected to remain a big part of future Bridgefest celebrations.
News in Brief: Copper Country Pickleball Tournament
Pickleball at Bridgefest brought fun and competition to Laurn Grove Park. With four busy courts and players of all ages, the event showed how the sport continues to grow in the Copper Country. Organizers and volunteers helped make the tournament a highlight of this year’s festival.