Amery Pickleball Courts Project: The new pickleball courts in Amery are now open, finished nearly a month early after two years of planning and hard work. The project was a joint effort between the City of Amery and the Amery Pickleball Club and replaces worn-out tennis courts that had become unsafe.
Community and Club Work Together
The Amery Pickleball Club and the City of Amery worked closely to complete the new courts. The club raised $52,000 for the project and got support from local businesses.
“The pickleball club raised $52,000 towards the project. And a lot of help from a lot of local businesses as well,” said Craig DiLorenzo, President of the Amery Pickleball Club. “And we were able to give that to the city, then to get it started. The pickleball club had some people in the club who had contacts and started to work with different vendors. They got low bids and those kinds of things, and helped work with the city.”
Jeff Mahoney, Public Works Director, and Mike Manor, an Alderperson, helped manage the work. They got vendor bids, worked with workers, and kept in touch with the pickleball club to make sure everything went smoothly.
Last fall, the pavement was finished. However, colder weather delayed the final work. Once spring came, the fencing and painting moved forward quickly.
HS Fencing first put up the outside fence. Then painters came to mark the court lines. After that, HS Fencing returned to finish the inside fences and install the nets.
“Boom, that day, we were out there playing with temporary nets on the new courts, and all of a sudden, the fencing company showed up and started installing the permanent nets,” said Craig DiLorenzo.
New Courts Attract Big Crowds
The new courts opened to big crowds. On one of the first days, 30 to 40 people were playing or waiting. The Amery Pickleball Club now has close to 100 members.
The club wants to improve the space even more. Ideas include a table in the middle area, lockers for belongings, and stronger locks at night. They also plan to add screens to block wind and give neighbors more privacy.
Since the courts are owned by the city, the club wants to make sure any new features can be used by everyone.
Nearby communities have shown interest too. Many players are coming to Amery because it has eight courts. Most nearby towns only have two courts. New Richmond has a slightly bigger setup, but Amery’s courts are drawing people in.
The club hopes to host tournaments in the future to bring even more players and visitors to town. The public is welcome to come learn and play.
Leaders Reflect on the Project’s Success
Recently, the Amery Pickleball Club visited city leaders to thank them for their help. Mayor Rick Van Blaricom spoke about how far the project has come.
“Bob just reminded me that it was more than two years ago that we started on this project with kind of stutter steps and got community involvement,” said Rick Van Blaricom. “And the pickleball folks got involved, and then we went from nothing to something. We all participated positively during this experience.”
Anyone who wants to join the Amery Pickleball Club or learn how to play can visit the club’s Facebook page or contact Craig DiLorenzo. The club also has a website, but it is currently under maintenance.
News in Brief: Amery Pickleball Courts Project
Amery’s new pickleball courts are now open, completed nearly a month early thanks to efforts by the city and the Amery Pickleball Club. With eight full courts, the space is drawing big crowds and visitors. The club plans more improvements and may host future tournaments to promote the sport.
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