Pickleball Lincoln dedicates newly surfaced pickleball courts at three parks
If the dedication and enthusiasm of pickleball players in Lincoln was ever in doubt, Friday morning at Ballard Park should put that to rest.
A group of pickleball players gathered to cut the ceremonial ribbon on six newly surfaced, dedicated pickleball courts in the north Lincoln park, along with six courts at Eden Park and two dedicated pickleball courts and two dual-striped tennis courts at Densmore Park.
There are 16 newly surfaced courts for one reason: Pickleball Lincoln, a nonprofit with more than 2,000 members, raised more than $350,000 to get the work done.
"Our mission has never been to create something saleable like land or a building with our name on it," Pickleball Lincoln's president Joel Houston said. "PBL's mission is pure. We do this to build friendships, relationships that would likely not have occurred if a community wasn't fostered by Pickeball Lincoln. We have enriched the lives of hundreds of people by making pickleball available to everyone, regardless of what's in their bank account."
The popularity of pickleball has exploded in recent years, which Houston said is in part due to retirees who winter in places like Arizona, where pickleball was already popular, and who brought the game back to their hometowns.
Lincoln's pickleball players were instrumental in making sure their interests were well-represented in a master plan for tennis and pickleball courts Lincoln Parks and Recreation created two years ago that increased the number of pickleball courts and reduced the number of tennis courts. Among the goals in that master plan were resurfacing the courts at Ballard and Eden parks.
When Lincoln Parks and Recreation did a survey for the master plan, 65% of the responses came from pickleball players.
Denise Pierce, with Lincoln Parks and Recreation, thanked the pickleball players for their work to raise the money needed to resurface the courts.
Parks and Recreation department officials have attended many conferences and forums on the topic of pickleball, Pierce said, and hear lots of stories about conflicts among different racket sports enthusiasts — even lawsuits.
"That hasn't been the story in Lincoln, Nebraska," she said. "We haven't had that drama. It's because of all of you ... because you prioritize cooperation over division and conflict, and for that we thank you as well."
Lincoln's pickleball organization — all volunteers — is different than many cities that have privatized their organizations, Houston said. All the money raised by Pickleball Lincoln goes to Parks and Recreation projects, he said.
Houston said he is often asked why someone should join Pickleball Lincoln when all the courts are free and in city parks.
"Well, this is why. You're standing on it. Because PBL is dedicated to improving the playing opportunities across Lincoln for all," he said.
And with that, the microphone was turned off. The snacks could wait. It was time to play pickleball.
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Local government reporter
