Pickleball in Preston

The Preston Park Board approved the addition of pickleball usage at the tennis courts next to Fillmore Central Elementary at their June 24 meeting. Volunteers used Gorilla tape to line the 20’x44’ courts inside the existing tennis courts, as the game is played on a court smaller than tennis courts. A few turns of the handle will lower the net to 34 inches for pickleball and then return the nets to the height for tennis.

Pickleball is very popular in Florida and Texas, but is getting to be more common in other areas of the country. John and Caroline Boll learned about the sport six years ago while in Arizona, and are looking forward to teaching and playing it in Preston. The sport is senior citizen friendly, but also is a great family sport that can include parents and children. The game is a combination of tennis, badminton and ping-pong that is played hitting a whiffle ball back and forth with a paddle, in either singles or doubles competition.

John Boll, who initiated this proposal, will provide instruction on Monday, July 10 and Monday, July 17 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Other volunteers will be continuing this community service on a weekly basis. Paddles and balls will be provided for initial classes. Boll is appreciative of the Preston Park Board allowing lines to be placed on the tennis courts, which hopefully will allow even more use of the courts. The Bolls look forward to sharing their love of the game with many others, and hope you’ll join them in this fun game!

Angi Kaase, Fillmore County Community Eduation Director, is excited to see this additional use and hopes the to see this added as a sumemr program for next year. Maggie Walsh, physical education teacher at Fillmore Central Elementary School, already teaches pickleball to grade four to six students and had indoor courts in the school gym. Gabby Kinneberg, Preston tourism director, will post program information on the Preston television site, channel 4 on Mediacom cable.