The ribbon was cut this week on the newly constructed pickleball courts at Sunnyside Park in Bremen.
The project was made possible with funds collected by the Bremen Pickleball Club that has over 90 members, a READI grant, the Town of Bremen with the Bremen Park Board, the Marshall County Community Foundation and the German Township Trustee and Advisory Board.
In March of this year, Mike Reese from The Troyer Group recommended awarding bids from Brown and Brown General Contractors for the project with the base bid being $288,000 and alternate 3 for sidewalk access from the south at a cost of $6,000 for a total of $294,000. The bid was approved and construction started with the design by The Troyer Group.
Park Superintendent Brian Main said there are a small number of punchlist items to complete before the project closes out for administrative purposes, but the courts are ready for play.
The Bremen Pickleball club members appeared before the Bremen Town Council members four years ago asking for assistance in having a sole playing surface after sharing space with the park’s tennis courts, and the project was selected as a project that would benefit from READI 1.0 funding, along with other local matching funds.
The project came to fruition as the ribbon was cut late Tuesday afternoon to welcome players. Craig Fitch who spoke on behalf of the pickleball club said there is hope to expand one day, but the players are happy have a place to play.
