Blind River’s new pickleball court is officially open to players wanting to join the local club.
About 50 eager pickleball and tennis enthusiasts were on site as Mayor Sally Hagman cut the ribbon Thursday morning.
Mayor Hagman noted in her speech that the project was made possible through Ontario’s NOHFC funding, the Town of Blind River, and Blind River Tennis Club contributions. She thanked the Anishinaabe people for allowing the use the lands for recreation. Beamish Construction was also thanked for its work on the facility.
Linda Rainville and Fred Nyman of the Blind River Pickleball Club thanked Blind River council, staff and members for their hard work, patience, and support. The club’s membership continues to increase in 2023 as pickleball grows in popularity and Rainville and Nyman look forward to welcoming even more players to the brand new facility.
“After decades of patching, sealing, and band-aid fixes, it’s exciting to have beautiful and safe infrastructure.” Dick Hagman of the Blind River Tennis Club said.
Hagman added that the courts are special as they, along with the arena, were what made him and his wife the mayor feel at home and move to Blind River in the early 2000s.
Dolly Pigeon was at the site for the opening and was one of the original organizers of the former courts. Pigeon was thanked by the mayor for her work that has been appreciated for decades.
Special thanks went out to Chris Kirby from TULLOCH Engineering for his dedication as well as Karen Bittner, the town’s director of facilities and community services, for ongoing communication with the clubs and leading projects that benefit Blind River’s recreation facilities.
Immediately following the ceremony, players took to the courts.
Tennis signups are facilitated through Barrels of Goodies in downtown Blind River.
For information on how to play pickleball, click here.