THE PICTURE IS OF THE COMPLETED COURTS - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC JULY 1, 2024
COURTS ARE LOCATED AT 1573 OVERLAND ROAD IN THE CHRIS KRAFT BEAVERHEAD COUNTY PARK
Our Story
Our efforts to raise funds for developing and maintaining community outdoor pickleball facilities started in 2022 when a small group of individuals came up with the idea. With the help of Beaverhead County and Bike Walk Southwest Montana (BWSWMT) the concept soon started to take shape. The BWSWMT-Pickleball Committee was formed under BWSWMT IRS 501(c)3. A project budget was created with fund raising beginning late 2022. The Beaverhead Pickleball Association was formed in September of 2023 after transitioning from a committee of BWSWMT to it's own 501(c)3 organization due to insurance issues.
From an Idea to Reality
After three months of fund raising and obtaining commitments for in-kind donations, preparations were made to start construction in early November for 2022. But, as Mother Nature would have it, the weather did not cooperate until May 1, 2023. When construction finely started costs had risen from an estimated $43,000 to over $70,000 for the two courts. Check view more to see more photos of the construction progress on the courts. Fencing was completed the second week in November 2023 and the courts were ready for play July 1, 2024.
The Time is Now
Pickleball is now played in 60 countries representing 6 continents around the world, and growing! Association of Pickleball Professionals reports there were 36.6 millon picleball players in the U.S. from August 2021 to August 2022, a more than 7 fold increase over previous estimates. Click view more to open the USA Pickleball Website.
Individuals have donated over $9,000 toward the construction of the pickleball courts which is reflected in the amount above.
3D Trophies and More
AgWest Farm Services
Badger Archery
Bank of Commerce
Barns Auction Services
Beaverhead County
Beaverhead Foundation
Beaverhead Home Center
Bike Walk Southwest Montana
Buyan Industries, LLC
Cottom Seed, Inc.
Country Side RV
Dillon Jaycees
Goose Down Ranch
High Peaks Federal Credit Union
JGN Law Office
John Erb Ranch
Edward Jones Firm and Foundation
Festival of Trees
Mac’s Last Cast
HELP OUR CAUSE
Your support and contributions will enable us maintain as well as improve the courts and enhance the park like setting. Your generous donation enable us to continue to offer free public lessons and offer pickleball to anyone who wants play. We ask that you mail tax deductible donations to Beaverhead Pickleball Association, PO Box 683 Dillon, MT 59725 or you can donate through our Zeffy account on our Facebook listing (Facebook.com/BeaverheadPickleball). Thank you for your support.
The Association is organized for the following specific purposes:
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Providing a safe and educational environment.
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Fosters, expands, promotes and perpetuates pickleball and to enforce uniform rules, regulations, procedures, conditions and methods of competition at all events.
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Develops educational programs related to the safe exercise of the sport of pickleball and to foster and perpetuate sportsmanship amongst all players.
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Build and provide safe pickleball courts open to all members of the pickleball association as well as the general public.
Matador Ranch and Cattle Company
Morrison Construction
Murdock's Ranch and Home Supply
Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan
Pivots Plus
ProShine Clean
RE Miller and Sons
Rocky Mountain Supply
Rowe Excavation
Schuett Farms Frontline Ag Solutions
Selkirk
Southwesten YMCA
Sparky's Garage
Stockman Bank
Subway Dillon
Sundowner Motel
The Good Life
The Notch Physical Therapy
Town & Country Foods
United Way of Beaverhead County
Over $80,000 Donated Monetarily and Through In-Kind Services by the Following Businesses and Organizations.
Every donation will receive an acknowledgement from the association
News Letter September 2024
With temperatures cooling off and some additional new players, traffic at the courts has seen a notable increase. The most consistent playing time is during the weekday mornings from about 7:30 to around 10am. Evenings have also seen players showing up on a more regular basis, and the same can be said for the weekends.
Rich Hilton has built two new benches that have been placed outside the east entrance. Thanks Rich for your efforts! The chairs that were there have been removed because individuals had been taking them onto the court surface and tracking in gravel from the outside. We need to keep the surface as clean as possible as any dirt/gravel degrades the acrylic surface of the courts. The second coat of green acrylic is scheduled for October 6-7, weather permitting.
We did not have a Board Meeting in September as originally planned to discuss when to close down the facility for the winter and what steps may be necessary to accomplish this for the first time. The meeting has been rescheducled for the first week in October. Most likely we will be closing the facility during October and will need help with whatever tasks the Board identifies. GG has resigned from the Board because of winter travel and grand-parenting duties. As one of the original and founding members she will be missed on the Board; but she will still be around to give us great play on the courts. Thanks GG for all your ideas and help since inception. A new Board member will be appointed in October.
September was a good month for donations. The Jaycees donated $2,000 for our help with past events; thanks to Rick Parke for his coordination of those events. Jen Kreiner paid the Association $70 for use of the courts for her classes. United Way will be providing an additional $500 as the last part payment on the 2024-2025 $1,000 allocation.
As always, questions, suggestions and ideas are always welcome!
Dave
BPA Chair
Beaverhead Pickleball Association
Chris Kraft Beaverhead County Park, 1573 Overland Road
Mailing Address PO Box 683 Dillon, MT 59725
Want to Learn How to Play Pickleball? Click our logo below!
Beaverhead Pickleball Association Board
Dave Cowardin – Chair
Ellen Ward – Vice Chair
Lalove Hilton - Secretary
Jennifer Cowardin – Treasurer
Mike Boka
Steve Cottom
Rich Hilton
Shannon Keller
Curt Lemhouse
Rick Parke
Chuck Harvey