Members of the community gathered at Russell Park on Wednesday night to celebrate the new pickleball pitches with a ribbon average.
Isaac Nielsen/McCook Gazette
McCOOK, Nebraska — A crowd gathered at the brand new pickleball courts at Russell Park on Wednesday night to commemorate the facility’s completion and to encourage others to take to the courts and participate in the nation’s fastest growing sport.
According to Jessica Bortner of McCook Community Hospital’s Wellness Initiative, data from a few years ago showed that Red Willow County ranked 69th out of 80 counties surveyed for health behaviors and access to recreational opportunities. The data, along with the input from community members, enabled improvements to be made to features such as hiking trails, the town pool, and pickleball courts.
Chamber of Commerce Chairman Joe Townsley thanked the many sponsors who made the project possible:
Several people involved in the project, including Mayor Linda Taylor (above right), spoke to commemorate the completion.
Isaac Nielsen/McCook Gazette
“Thank you for creating another piece of the puzzle and thank you for improving our community.”
Mayor Linda Taylor said the project is a microcosm of how a community can work together, acknowledging that McCook’s new Pickleball pitches give many surrounding towns a head start in that regard:
“It shows what working together in a community can do, and it’s what made McCook special.”
After the courts officially ‘opened’, players like Brian Michaelis and Dale Ellerton engaged in friendly competition while others enjoyed ice cream from The Scoop and popcorn from Poppin’ on the Bricks.
Isaac Nielsen/McCook Gazette
The new pitches are still being improved, and recent donations are going towards more benches, windshields and permanent shade structures, says “Pickler” Christy Stevens. Donations will be accepted for a short time to complete the project.
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