Community Gathers for Ribbon Cutting of New Pickleball Courts

By ETHAN WALLACE

CMU Journalism Intern

Harrison – Pickleball players and members of the community gathered at Harrison City Park for the ribbon cutting of the new pickleball courts on May 21. As everyone gathered together on the new courts, Harrison Mayor Dan Sullivan cut the ribbon.

Helen Gibbons, Harrison pickleball group member, followed up the cheers from the ribbon cutting with a speech for the city and pickleball community.

“These courts represent more than a place to play,” Gibbons said. “They represent a place where Harrison continues to grow. A place where beginners can pick up a paddle for the very first time, and where experienced players can sharpen their skills.”

Harrison’s pickleball group started about four years ago on Facebook, Gibbons said. The group gained momentum in the community and needed a public place to play.

She said members of the group talked to the city and gathered letters of support. Their advocacy showed the city their passion and got them a grant for the new courts and other amenities, such a new jungle gym.

“You gave us grace as we navigated the process of building support for the grant,” Gibbons told members of the city at the event. “But most importantly you believed in what this could become. You saw the dedication of the players.”

After Gibbons’s speech, players proceeded to start teams on the new courts.

Before the city installed the pickleball courts, players had to be resourceful to play the game, Kathy Laubon said.

“Before we had a cement area that we had three nets on, and it was just marked off by us measuring and taping,” Laubon said. “We brought our own nets and made do with what we had here.”

Now the community has new courts, along with the tennis courts that also provide outlines for extra space to play pickleball.

When pickleball player Debbie Best moved to Harrison, she’d never played the sport. After seeing it on Facebook and playing it, she ended up joining a community.

“The facility is fantastic,” said Best. “It's just a nice way for us to get to meet people, to get out there and exercise. You get to know your community, and you get to teach others, because we always have somebody coming who wants to learn.”

Whether someone is new to pickleball or they are competitive, the new courts will hopefully attract new people, Best said. For example, holding a tournament to bring the community together at the park.

Members of the pickleball community from across the state came to the opening of the court, such as Nicole VanHorn from Midland.

She said pickleball is a huge community; there are some other people from Midland and some from Bay City that have come to the ribbon cutting.

“Pickleball is a sport for anyone to join no matter what age,” Laubon said. “These new courts will bring the community closer together.”

© Clare County Cleaver