M. K. White Park Pickleball Renovation: Warsaw residents are working to improve the pickleball courts at M. K. White Park after safety concerns and deteriorating surfaces limited play. Local resident Stephanie Rehagen formed the Truman Lake Pickleball Association and is seeking support from sponsors to fund renovations, aiming to make the courts safe and tournament-ready.
Background and Current Situation
Pickleball is a sport where two or four players use a paddle to hit a perforated plastic ball over a net until a side cannot return it. The sport, invented in 1965, was named the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. from 2021 to 2024. Warsaw has a strong pickleball community, with two outdoor courts at M. K. White Park and indoor play at the Warsaw Community Building.
Stephanie Rehagen explained the need for the project: “I have played pickleball for three years and it is a great sport that anyone can play at any level. However, the current surface at the courts at M.K. White Park is a smooth, slick concrete that is a slipping hazard. Deteriorating lines, nets, and surfaces limit organized play and without renovation, we cannot host local tournaments. It is a fast-growing sport and a place where friendships are formed, health is improved, and fun is had by all. Community response with donations has been good. There is about $7,000 in the account set up at Community National Bank. But we need $21,500 to resurface and repaint the courts with grit sport court surfaces, re-adjust permanent nets and posts, add fencing around the courts to keep wildlife out (especially geese) and renovations clean, and to install new seating and shaded areas for spectators.”
Community Participation
Barb Zillner, a local pickleball player, described how the sport grew in Warsaw: “We picked up people on the way, and now there are about 80 on our roster who play the game. We play routinely at the Warsaw Community Center on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and have added Thursday and Sunday mornings. If weather permits, we go outside. However, the tennis courts that were being used are not safe, so the City helped and set up two courts with nets at M. K. White Park. What Stephanie is doing is going to get a better surface. Most of our players are retirees, but we have some players who work and some who are only here in the summer. People rotate in and out.”
Funding and Sponsorship Opportunities
The renovation is expected to take 10 to 12 weeks after full funding is secured. Stephanie Rehagen is offering sponsorships: Title Sponsor ($5,000) with court naming rights, Gold Sponsor ($2,500) with all rights except naming, Silver Sponsor ($1,000) with name on entrance signboard, and Community Friend ($500) with social media and newspaper recognition. Rehagen said: “Your sponsorship with us will associate your company with health, wellness, and community involvement; reach hundreds of families, plus online exposure through our social media; and demonstrate your commitment to local community development. We invite you to be part of this exciting project. Together, we can create a vibrant space for recreation, friendship, and fun for years to come.”
News in Brief: M. K. White Park Pickleball Renovation
Warsaw’s M. K. White Park pickleball courts will be renovated after safety concerns limited play. Local resident Stephanie Rehagen launched the Truman Lake Pickleball Association to raise $21,500 for court resurfacing, new nets, fencing, seating, and shaded areas. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and the project is expected to take 10–12 weeks after funding.
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