APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — People in the Fox Valley can now enjoy a night game of pickleball, thanks to a donation.
On Tuesday, the city of Appleton held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its lighted, eight-court pickleball complex at Telulah Park.
It’s the largest pickleball complex in Northeast Wisconsin with lights.
The complex was made possible through a half million-dollar donation from philanthropist, Mary Beth Nienhaus. She has been a physical education teacher for 33 years and says she understands the importance of physical fitness.
“Appleton is a community that strives to be a great place to live for people at all stages of life,” said Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford. “Thanks to the support of Mary Beth and the hard work of our Parks & Recreation team, we are excited to add yet another amenity that will contribute to this vision.”
Officials say pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. It was invented in 1965 as a way to provide fun, competitive activity with outcomes determined less by height, strength, and speed of players, making it an appealing sport for all ages. According to the AARP, Pickleball is especially popular among those 50 and older as it provides aerobic activity with lower risk of injury than other sports.
The facility is open to people of all ages and abilities.
The court lights are expected to be added in the next few months.
