Pickleball Vs Tennis Clash: In a recent council meeting, the Peru council officially approved the request from St. Bede to exclusively use the tennis courts at Washington Park for their upcoming home matches. St. Bede Athletic Director Michael Armato had sought this arrangement for matches scheduled on September 4, September 17, September 18, September 30, October 3, and October 8. During these times, the courts will be closed to the public from 3:30 to 7 p.m., ensuring that all matches are conducted without interruption. However, the facility will continue to be accessible for general practices outside these hours.
Director of Parks and Recreation Adam Thorson highlighted that St. Bede has a longstanding tradition of using the Washington Park tennis courts for both daily practices and home matches. The approval show the council’s commitment to supporting local high school sports.
Recent weeks have seen a growing debate among local tennis and pickleball enthusiasts. Pickleball players have requested that additional lines be painted on the tennis courts to create more pickleball courts. This request has been met with resistance from tennis players who argue that painting pickleball lines would compromise the quality of their playing surfaces. In response to these conflicting needs, Mayor Ken Kolowski has been collaborating with Thorson to explore a solution that might address both parties’ concerns.
Despite the tensions, Mayor Kolowski remains optimistic about resolving the issue. He noted that while there are differing opinions on the use of the courts, the community’s ability to come together for high school tournaments is crucial. “They understand when you’re talking about high school tournaments,” Kolowski said. “It’s not going to be a problem. We just have to make sure everyone is informed.”
The goal moving forward is to ensure that all stakeholders—whether tennis players or pickleball enthusiasts—are well-informed and that the courts are used in a way that benefits the entire community.
News in Brief: Pickleball Vs Tennis Clash
The Peru council has granted St. Bede exclusive use of the Washington Park tennis courts for their home matches on September 4, 17, 18, 30, October 3, and 8. During these matches, the courts will be closed from 3:30 to 7 p.m., but the facility will remain open for practice sessions outside these times. St. Bede Athletic Director Michael Armato’s request was approved amid ongoing discussions about adding pickleball lines to the courts. Pickleball players have requested these additions, but tennis players oppose, fearing it will affect their play. Mayor Ken Kolowski is working with Parks and Recreation Director Adam Thorson on a solution to address both parties’ concerns, ensuring smooth operations during high school tournaments.
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