By Robert Williams

Editor

Members of the Pickleball Committee, city officials, major donor representatives and enthusiasts of the sport met at the site of the new courts to break ground on the coming construction on Thursday, April 23.

Frazee Area Community Club President Tom Watson spoke about the successful fundraising campaign, the positive effect the pickleball courts will have on the city and commended the committee and everyone involved in bringing the sport to Frazee.

Fundraising leaders Shelly Blauert and Madison Olson thanked the major donors, including Arvig, Midco, Tom Barry, Sue Lysaker, the City and the School District. Olson announced the capital campaign is now $67,000 shy of the three-year goal of $282,000.

“We are way ahead of schedule,” she said.

Thursday was a big day for Olson. She was recognized and given the individual Community Spirit Award for her community efforts at the United Way’s Celebration of Heroes in Detroit Lakes later that evening.

Randi Newton also spoke about traveling to pickleball courts in the surrounding area, like Detroit Lakes, Vergas and Perham, to hype up the coming courts in Frazee and assured those in attendance of the positive effect the sport will have on the community.

The event was co-hosted by ICS, a facility planning, design, and construction services firm that has partnered with the school district on past projects. ICS was represented by Project Manager Collin Rehbein.

A parking lot has already been completed at the site. The lot was funded and created to serve both the junior varsity baseball field and the pickleball courts to save costs. According to Superintendent Terry Karger, the lot was proposed under a five to eight-year abatement bond of approximately $365,000 to create the courts and the parking lot. Initial cost analysis on the parking lot was $250,000.

The pickleball courts add another important amenity to Frazee and the North River Drive area, joining Wannigan Regional Park, the school ballparks and the new track and football field as future state bonding funds continue to be sought to complete the paving of North River Drive.

To make a tax deductible donation to the pickleball fundraiser visit frazeecommunityclub.com/pickleball or search “Frazee Pickleball” on Facebook.