Pickleball courts developed in Polson
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The City of Polson, individuals, businesses and organizations made the three new pickleball courts a reality when the old city basketball courts, sandwiched between Division Street and the Mariners baseball field in Polson, were repurposed and painted by volunteers Bob and Donna Hislop for pickleball for the first phase of the project.
The 2017 and 2018 Montana Senior Olympics, hosted by Polson, were the driving force in making all this happen. Out of the 15 activities, seniors 50 and over could choose from, pickleball was the most popular with close to 120 participants. At that time, the tennis courts at Linderman Elementary School and the middle school gym were the only options to accommodate this event.
Volunteers spent hours down on their knees laying blue tape on the tennis courts and gym floor. Each tennis court equaled two pickleball courts. Many people with homes in the Polson area head south in the wintertime where they play the sport. When they come home in the spring, they want to continue playing, so there was a demand to build the courts.
Phase two has included $10,000 worth of fencing and the installation of permanent nets on the three courts. The City of Polson donated time and maintenance to match monies received from St. Joseph Medical Center, the Greater Polson Community Foundation, Friends of Regional Parks and Trails, Glacier Bank and generous individuals.
Phase three will include three more courts. This time laying the asphalt surface will cost $20,000 more than the surface for the first three courts because we’ll be starting from bare ground.
Once the asphalt is laid and cured, which takes approximately one to two months, the new courts can be painted, nets put up and fencing installed. The total cost to complete this final phase of the project will be $50,000. According to Parks and Recreation Director Pat Nowlen, when the project is completed, Polson will have six new pickleball courts for under $100,000. “A real deal, ” Nowlen said.
We are in the fundraising phase now. The City of Polson will match grant monies and donations that are received. All businesses and individuals are invited to participate in our Banner Sponsorship Program. To make a pickleball donation, just come into City Hall and fill out a donation form.
