Athol Community Pickleball Court Opening: American Legion Post 149 in Athol will celebrate the grand opening of its new pickleball court on Saturday. The event will include a ribbon-cutting, free food, and a dunk tank. The court, painted in red, white, and blue, was built entirely through donations from the local community.
Pickleball Comes to Post 149
Bar manager Marlene Engdahl led the effort to bring pickleball to American Legion Post 149. The idea came after the pandemic left the post struggling. Looking for new ways to draw people in, she decided to build a court for the fast-growing sport on the post’s property.
“There was one problem: the project would need to be donation-funded,”. “At the beginning, Engdahl met one ‘no’ after the other.”(Marlene Engdahl)
Donations Made the Dream Real
Marlene Engdahl stayed determined.
“I don’t like the word ‘no.’”. “I’m a Gemini. … when we say we’re going to do something, we do it.”(Marlene Engdahl)
After several months, support began to grow. A church member who owns an excavation business offered free help. A concrete company donated both labor and materials. Soon, many others pitched in.
“Really, it was an act of God,”. “Basically, within two weeks, it all came together.”(Marlene Engdahl)
A New Place to Gather
Engdahl hopes the court becomes a place for people to meet and enjoy themselves.
“We’re trying to be more than a bar. We’re really here for the veterans to get out and have fun,” (Marlene Engdahl).
She believes the sport is a perfect match for the post.
“They say that pickleball is one of the best sports for retired or disabled veterans,”.
She also praised the town’s support. “This is for the community of Athol,” Engdahl said.
Marlene Engdahl is still seeking donations to build a fence around the court.
News in Brief: Athol Community Pickleball Court Opening
American Legion Post 149 in Athol will open a new red, white, and blue pickleball court on Saturday. Led by Marlene Engdahl, the project was funded fully by local donations. The new court is meant to support veterans and bring the Athol community together through fun, social activities.
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