New pickleball courts in Vergas have proven to be a popular community activity

By Isabel Fynboh 

West Central Initiative

Across the region, communities are adding a new amenity—pickleball courts.

Pickleball, originally developed in 1965, blends elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong to create a fast-paced, active game enjoyed by people of all ages. The sport encourages movement, connection, and fun, and is easy to learn. It only requires a paddle, a ball, access to a court, and a few friends willing to play. No wonder pickleball is currently one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. 

Creating community spaces 

Locally, communities are embracing this popular sport with support from WCI’s component fund program. Growing community interest in pickleball led four towns to partner with West Central Initiative to help manage their projects’ fundraising and administrative tasks. Through our component fund program and their local community funds, the Parkers Prairie community, Battle Lake Pickleball Club, Perham Pickleball Club, and Vergas Pickleball Club are bringing their communities’ pickleball court visions to life.

In the summer of 2022, Perham and Vergas completed their respective pickleball projects. Perham added eight courts in Arvig Park, while Vergas built four courts near the town’s baseball diamond. The Perham Pickleball Board of Directors and Vergas Pickleball Board of Directors oversaw these projects, proposing and designing all aspects of their courts. Both boards remain active in managing and maintaining the courts today.  

The courts continue to be a valuable addition to Perham and Vergas, revitalizing community spaces, attracting new pickleball players, and encouraging economic activity. Local businesses benefit from an increase in pickleball traffic, as players stop by to get a cup of coffee, shop, or grab dinner, and community members have easy access to play their favorite game. 

Inspired by neighboring communities, Battle Lake and Parkers Prairie are fundraising to build their own courts. Battle Lake plans to add four courts, which will be completed in the summer of 2026. Parkers Prairie designed a pickleball area in City Park that will include three pickleball courts, three cornhole lanes, two basketball hoops, and picnic tables with chess and backgammon boards inlaid. These two communities hope to build a space for community connection. 

“We want City Park to be a gathering place,” said Parkers Prairie City Administrator, Beth Wussow. “Hopefully, people will say, ‘Oh my gosh, there’s something for everyone here.’” 

Cultivating joy through pickleball

While the communities are in different stages of the project, there’s overall excitement for the courts. In Perham and Vergas, the courts are quite popular. Community members are often spotted enjoying a game with friends and family. 

“The Vergas courts average 400 players per month in the summer,” says Shannon Charpentier, President of the Vergas Pickleball Board of Directors. “Everyone is always smiling and laughing on the courts, no matter their skill level.” 

Whether you’re a local or a visitor wanting to try the sport, the communities encourage people to get involved with pickleball. Both are sharing the joy of the game through regular drop-in play, league nights, lessons, and locally sponsored tournaments. Battle Lake and Parkers Prairie hope to create a similar culture and plan to provide various opportunities once their new courts are up and running.  

Building lasting connections on the courts 

For these four communities, pickleball is more than just a game. It’s a sport rooted in making connections. “Pickleball is a great sport—it helps people get active as well as social,” says former Perham Pickleball Club President, Brad Offutt. “You’re meeting people, you’re talking, you’re getting out. It really helps the population integrate with each other.”  

By adding pickleball courts, these towns hope to strengthen existing friendships within the community while inspiring new connections. “A lot of people have lake homes here,” says Battle Lake Pickleball component fund advisor Renae Specht. “If people come and they want to play pickleball, they’ll come to Battle Lake, play, meet new people, and just feel more connected with the whole community.”  

The pickleball courts are a wonderful addition to the communities of Perham, Vergas, Battle Lake, and Parkers Prairie. They’ve become a source of local pride, bringing awareness, attention, and tourism to small local towns, while also bringing neighbors together, encouraging an active lifestyle, and creating a space for fun. The lasting impact of the courts is sure to be felt for years to come.

Communities that are interested in creating a fund for pickleball courts or other community projects, please contact WCI’a Community Philanthropy Officer, Samantha VanWechel-Meyer. Individuals can learn more about component funds or make a donation to a community fund or project at wcif.org/local-giving.