The City of Rhinelander recently removed the aging tennis courts at Pioneer Park, and a local group is raising money to replace those courts for a fast-growing sport: pickleball.
Pickleball is a combination of tennis, ping-pong and badminton using a racket slightly larger than a ping-pong paddle over a net shorter than used in tennis.
At the park Thursday afternoon, spokesperson Maureen O'Melia stood by a banner facing South Oneida Avenue that asks for private funds to build the new courts...
"...We're very excited to make this banner presentation today to kick off the fundraising, the real fun part of this is coming up. We're real excited for the pickleball community, Pioneer Park, friends and family. That this unused surface can be brought back and used again..."
She says they have a ways to go to reach their fundraising goal...
"...at least 50 thousand more. We're at about $22,000 right now. We need, for sure, about $50,000, plus a little more..."
The city is working on a new master plan for Pioneer Park which incorporates the pickleball courts. The common council approved making the area for pickleball.
O' Melia says the group is hoping to be able to play on the new courts in 2020....
"...as soon as asphalt can be laid in the summer. There's a cure process that can be done before the painting can be done. So hopefully, mid-July."
O'Melia says they have more than 100 pickleball players in their group. She says many communities are converting their tennis courts into pickleball places. There's a website with more information at rhinelanderpickleball.net