City of Merrill sign outside City Hall. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
MERRILL, WI (WSAU) — The city of Merrill has received grant funding for six lighted pickleball courts at Ott’s Park.
The courts will be the first dedicated pickleball facilities in the city and will allow Merrill to host leagues and tournaments involving both residents and regional players. The courts will also be open for recreational use.
“These courts will provide a new recreation amenity for the City of Merrill,” said Administrator David Johnson in a press release.
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing recreational and competitive sports in the United States and mixes elements of ping-pong, tennis, and badminton. The latest surveys show nearly five million people play the sport. During the last national championship, more than 2,300 players competed for $90,000 in prize money.
Funding for the courts has been secured through a grant from the Bierman Family Foundation.
The announcement came on Tuesday, one week before Administrator Johnson will retire. Johnson says this will be his last city project, saying “[I knew] that pickleball courts were on the Parks & Recreation Department’s wish list for a future project, I wanted to make this my last project prior to retirement.”
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