The Red Wing Pickleball Group of Red Wing, Minnesota, is seeking to raise somewhere in the region of $80,000 to pay for the construction of outdoor courts.

Installation Of New Courts

The group comprises over 60 members who play every week without fail.

In the summer months, they use the courts at Twin Bluff Middle School, while during the winter, they assemble at the YMCA. 

Having presented a proposal to the Red Wing City Council, the group is pushing for the installation of permanent outdoor courts at Colvill Park.

Over the course of the past year, their amazing fundraising endeavors have secured over $170,000. 

The group had anticipated a matching DNR grant, which, unfortunately, the city did not secure this year. Consequently, the group is actively exploring additional avenues for fundraising to realize their objective.

Undeterred

Tim Sletten, a member of the group, reflected on their previous presentation to the council, noting, “A year ago, we went in front of the council and proposed this idea, and they agreed to it with the understanding that our group would raise half of the money, but the city did not get the DNR grant. 

“We were kind of left with ‘what are we going to do now’ because we weren’t going to give up on our project.”

Undeterred by the knockback, the group decided to approach the City Council once more, offering to contribute an additional quarter of the funding in exchange for council support in covering the remaining expenses.

Sletten reported, “The city intends to apply for the DNR grant again. We brought this proposal in front of the council, and they agreed. So our group started in September with another fundraising campaign to achieve that next amount.”

Greater Participation

Presently, the group is in pursuit of an additional $80,000 to $90,000 for the project. Sletten acknowledged, “We will know better what the full cost of the project will be when we get closer to the actual building of the courts.”

With the establishment of these pickleball courts, the group aspires to foster greater participation in the sport. As Sletten acknowledges, “You don’t have to be a star athlete to play; it is fun, and you get great exercise.

“We see time and time again the benefits people get from playing pickleball, not only the physical side of it but also the emotional side.”

Chances For 2024 Appear Slim

While the likelihood of the courts materializing in 2024 appears slim, the group remains hopeful that 2025 will mark the realization of their vision for permanent courts in Colvill Park. 

For further information on joining the group or supporting their fundraising endeavors, interested parties may reach out to Sletten at [email protected].