Watertown Pickleballers Close to a Win

The methodical tink of the volleying ball, the celebration of a win thwarted by the corresponding frustration from across the net, and of course the friendly banter of the notoriously good-natured group gathered for daily matches. If you frequent Highland Park or the Prairie Lakes Wellness Center, you most certainly have heard the sounds of Watertown’s “Pickleballers”.

“As active seniors, we normally play Monday through Friday and our numbers exceed the number of available courts,” said Paulette Cotten, Watertown Pickleball Association Secretary-Treasurer and USA Pickleball Association Ambassador.

The Watertown Pickleball Association is on a mission to promote pickleball in the Watertown area as a healthy activity for people of all ages. To improve access to the sport while enhancing the experience for all those who play, the Association is focused on fundraising efforts to assist with the construction of eight outdoor pickleball courts to be located east of the Prairie Lakes Wellness Center.

The Watertown Area Community Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to support this effort.

“Over the past couple years, the Foundation has been intentional to support efforts that promote the mental health of our community members,” said Foundation Executive Director Cammie Mengwasser. “Pickleball keeps people physically active while also building a sense of community and belonging among participants across generations. It’s an excellent investment in our community’s well-being and vitality.” 

Primed for Pickleball>>> Watertown Area Community Foundation board members and staff visited with local pickleball players at Highland Park. The Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to the Watertown Pickleball Association to support the construction of eight outdoor pickleball courts.

Fundraising efforts for the courts are still ongoing, but the group is close to achieving its goal. Watertown Park & Rec and City Engineers have hired an outside contractor to do the project design/engineering and two members of the board of the Watertown Pickleball Association have been included in the design process.

Construction is anticipated to start in the spring of 2024. 

“We are nearly there thanks to the generosity of many,” said Cotten. “If we can raise another $84,000, we can continue to support our growing group here in Watertown and host larger regional tournaments. It’s a good thing all around for our community.”