EPRD funds dedicated pickleball courts at Buchanan
Bob Kerr
We may be playing pickleball indoors at Buchanan Rec Center by next winter. That was the message at last week’s EPC General Membership Meeting from President Bob Kerr. He’s been working on getting dedicated pickleball courts in north Evergreen for months, probably years. Here’s the latest, in his own words:
The actual building (vicinity map below) will be approximately. 80’x240 feet and will house four dedicated pickleball courts in half of the building and multi-use courts in the other half.
Our financial participation is critical to our ability to be a driving force in the development of this project and accomplishing the goal of giving the pickleball community a functional and year-round facility that is pickleball specific.
I expect other drawings that will more accurately depict the size and location of the new building. Current schedule is for this project to be put out to bid within eight weeks and commence construction in the spring with completion and use for next winter. A lot more details are to follow as the planning phase continues.
Our website is now set up to allow for donations to the club and with our 501c3 tax status all donations are tax-deductible. Donations can be specified for capital improvements, equipment, tournaments, educational clinics, certifications for instructors, etc.
In the event any monies are not utilized for a capital improvement project, those monies can be returned. Our partnership with EPRD on this “field house” (as EPRD has designated it) will open new possibilities for expansion with more outdoor courts and is only the beginning for our mountain pickleball community.
Our fundraising committee will be announcing efforts and opportunities in the coming weeks. As always, thoughts and ideas to move this forward are appreciated. That link is to Bob’s email, but any member of the EPC board would be happy to hear your opinions.
The planned field house addition is shown in yellow at the upper right of the existing Buchanan Rec Center in white.
EHS at Wulf tomorrow morning
The Evergreen High School PE class will be using all four courts tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 17)) from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., impacting Advanced play (usually 9 to 11:30 a.m.). This event was rescheduled from last week, according to EPRD recreation supervisor Jeff Sweet.
Board meeting
Three EPC board members were elected by a show of hands Thursday during the annual General Membership Meeting at Wulf Rec Center. Bob Kerr was elected president, Mick Pearce returns for a second term as tournament director and Jim Hunsaker returns as the EPC webmaster. All ran unopposed.
The main topic at the meeting, which attracted seven conscientious club members as well as 10 members of the 11-member board and fundraising guru Julie Ann Courim, was a planned field house addition to Buchanan Recreation Center in Bergen Park. The EPRD board of directors approved funding for the project at its Nov. 19 meeting as part of its COP-funded capital projects for 2025-2029.
Julie Ann Courim describes fund-raising to members of the EPC board at the Dec. 12 All Members Meeting. From left: Cherie Peterson, Jim Hunsaker, Julie Ann, Bob Kerr, John Dunlop.