AMBOY – Pickleball has become a phenomenon throughout Illinois with communities creating court in every direction of the state.
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AMBOY – Pickleball has become a phenomenon throughout Illinois with communities creating court in every direction of the state.
Amboy Park Board President Gary Wilhelm saw a perfect place in Amboy where the city could be included in the recent outdoor sport outpour.
“I’m a community-orientated guy. I look at homes and streets and I think we can always improve stuff,” Wilhelm said. “One of the things that came about this year when we were updating the baseball fields at Amboy City Park and Amboy High School getting a new track, I reached out to the school superintendent Josh Nichols and asked if there was consideration to fix the tennis courts.
“It was an eye sore and pickleball is really taking off. Nichols said the estimate to fix the tennis courts was $110,000 because they’d have to resurface the courts. I thought we could do it for less money. I thought pickleball would be a nice replacement for the battered and weathered tennis court.”
Wilhelm asked Jeramey Wittenauer, works for the City of Amboy, if the park board bought posts and nets, if the city staff could install them. The City of Amboy installed the nets and posts and fixed the concrete as the one of the two tennis courts became two pickleball courts.
When it came to painting the courts, Wilhelm found an estimate of $7,700 to surface the courts. With the help of donations from the Knights of Columbus, the City of Amboy, the Amboy Lions Club, and private donations, funds were collected to help offset the price of the endeavor.
The courts still belong to Amboy High School as there are thoughts of turning the courts into an extension of the parking lot or constructing green houses in the next 3-5 years.
Until then, the Amboy Park Board and the City of Amboy have helped bring pickleball players to once abandoned courts.
“Pickle ball is a big thing right now. I think it’s a good deal,” said Amboy Mayor Frank Stenzel. “Anytime we can do something where people can enjoy being outside and being active, it’s great. They did a great job with the pickle ball courts.”
