The Ithaca Senior Activity Building Board of Directors are undertaking a major construction project that will benefit the entire community.
The board has approved building four pickleball courts in a vacant lot just north of the senior center adjacent to Atkinson Park.
Efforts are already underway to raise between the $140,000 and $150,000 it will take to fund the work.
“The Senior Activity Building board’s goal is to increase the use of its building while promoting the health and activity of its seniors and other age groups,” said Jo Jones, director of both the SAB and the local Food with Friends program. “At the same time, it works closely with the Commission on Aging to promote all the activities they wish to hold at the building centered around Food with Friends.”
Work will include installing a 64-foot by 115-foot concrete slab covered with a professional pickleball surface with nets and surrounded by an eight-foot chain link fence.
The board has already secured the services of three local contractors for the project.
Freed Construction of Alma will pour the concrete slab, Pro Surface of St. Johns will lay the specially required surface and CNM Fencing of St. Louis wll install the fence.
Pickleball is currently one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. It’s especially favored by those age 45 and older but also popular with younger age groups, according to SAB board member Vic Beard, who’s an avid player.
“You aren’t chasing a ball all over a tennis court with pickleball,” he explained. “The game is played on a court about one-third the size of a tennis court and plays similarly to ping-pong with a sizable paddle and baseball-sized wiffle ball. It’s usually played like tennis doubles.”
The Ithaca Rotary Club has made the initial fundraising pledge, which was presented to their group by president Marci Browne and member Jim Wideman, who both sit on Senior Activity Building’s board.
Grants from the Gratiot County Community Foundation and Gratiot County Parks and Recreation Commission are also being applied for.
Once complete, recognition of all those who make contributions toward the project will be given on a permanent display. There are four levels: Donor, up to $999; Contributor, $1,000 to $4,999; Sponsor, $5,000 to $9,999; and Benefactor, $10,000 or more.
“All residents of Gratiot County will be eligible to use the courts, which are being constructed on land owned by the city of Ithaca,” City Manager Jamey Conn said.
Depending on how fundraising goes the board may eventually look at enclosing the courts in a pole barn-type structure making it suitable for year-round use.
“We are excited about what this project can do for our seniors and the community and hope residents of the county will be willing to match our initial commitment to get it built,” board member and outgoing president Larry Ringle said.
Anyone interested in making a contribution can drop it off at the center or mail it to Ithaca Senior Activity Building, 1011 E. North St., Ithaca, MI 48847 with a notation on the check stating it’s for the “Pickleball Courts.”
If all goes according to plan the concrete slab is due to be poured next May and the surface and fencing installed one month later.
It’s expected to be ready for play by July.
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