Spencer pickleball courts continue to develop

By Valorie Brecht A lot has changed since the Spencer Pickleball Area Recreation Club (SPARC) cut the ribbon on the six pickleball courts at the village’s ARC park just over a year ago. What hasn’t changed is the club’s commitment to see the project through.

The club started its Legacy Campaign/Phase II on June 14, which involves raising $28,000 for a six-layer athletic seal coating that will protect the existing courts’ pavement and add cushion to the surface. As of July 26, $4,000 had been donated to the campaign.

The club will host a garage sale this Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 1-3, at 910 W. Clark St., Spencer, with all proceeds going directly toward the fundraising campaign. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The club will receive $1,000 in matching funds for the first $1,000 raised at the garage sale.

Courts progress The project officially started Nov. 13, 2022. There was a ribbon cutting and grand opening for the courts on July 14, 2023. Since then, the club refurbished and placed four courtside benches that they bought off the Wisconsin Surplus Auction for $320, and added a practice wall. Club members sponsored one bench for $500. They also cleared the area by the existing railroad and the old connecting line that connected the rail line going northwest with the one going straight north. They debrushed, filled in the ditch, leveled out piles and mowed to make that part of the park look more appealing in general.

Last fall, they also installed a dugout, which includes two benches, hooks for people to hang their bags, spare paddles and balls, and a storage area for the club to store the nets over the winter.

SPARC President Terry Prust said because club members have been willing to donate their time, labor and materials, it has kept costs low and helped donations to go a lot further than they otherwise would.

“The club donated 90 percent of the material on the dugout,” said Prust. “I think we will name it SPARC Depot, because we have a train theme going.”

Donors have the opportunity to sponsor the dugout for $2,000 or a bench for $500 ($250 for half a bench), with naming opportunities available. Since the dugout and benches have already been built, any donations will go into the seal coat fund. SPARC also purchased a bike rack from the Wisconsin Surplus Auction for $13.20, and

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refurbished it. R& R Flooring sponsored the bike rack, with their donation going into the seal coat fund. In addition, the club has acquired most of the permanent fencing that will go around the courts once the seal coat is completed. The fencing will help prevent balls bouncing into another court, and there will be gates to move between the courts. The plan is for the club members to install it themselves.

Also since the courts opened last summer, SPARC has increased the number of playing times from three to four times a week, offering scheduled play on Wednesday and Sunday nights at 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Friday mornings at 8:30 a.m. The club has about 33 members, with a lot of couples but also some singles. They range in age from college age into their 80s. Newcomers are welcome to come learn how to play pickleball at any of the scheduled play times. Seasoned players are also welcome.

The courts are also open to the general public from dawn to dusk, seven days a week.

“We see the general public in and out all the time. Anytime guests come and visit our courts, the comments we hear are they really like our courts and nets,” said Prust.

Apotential Phase III for the project would be to install courtside lighting, allowing people to play later into the evening. That would be subject to future club discussion, though.

People should follow the “Spencer Wisconsin Pickleball” page for updates and and random scheduled play times.

For more information about the club or to donate, contact Prust at 715-721-0758. Donors will be recognized on a plaque at the courts.

Donations can be made out to the village of Spencer, with “Spencer ARC pickleball” in the memo line. Mail to: Village of Spencer, P.O. Box 360, Spencer, WI 54479.

VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTO