The Pinetop Lakeside Town Council voted unanimously to authorize a grant application to Arizona State Parks and Trails for a proposed Pickleball Complex as the Pinetop Lakeside Pickleball Club reported surpassing its fundraising goal.

The vote finalizes the town’s submission for project PR26-001 after the club and town staff explained fundraising and phasing plans. Mark Dilts, board president of the Pinetop Lakeside Pickleball Club, told the council the group had raised $102,302 toward an initial $100,000 goal and has decided to increase its pledge to $125,000 to strengthen the town’s grant application.

“Just this week, we passed our goal…we are now at $102,302 raised, towards this project,” Mark Dilts said, and described ongoing community fundraising including tournaments, T-shirt sales, raffles and donations.

Why it matters: The grant, if approved, would fund construction of courts, associated site work and some amenities for a community complex the club says will support local recreation, school use and regional tournaments. Town staff said the grant approval process also requires a council resolution to complete the application.

Town staff and the club described a multi-year, phased approach that officials say is intended to keep costs manageable. Melena Stillman, interim public works director, told council members the grant agreement is a three-year project and that work could start in 2026 if the application is approved. Stillman said initial priorities are the court pads, restroom facilities and parking; lighting, fencing and certain site furnishings could follow later in the grant period.

“The grant agreement is for 3 years…pending the grant agreement, we’re looking at breaking ground and starting the project in ’26,” Stillman said. She added that plumbing and water infrastructure already installed for prior work reduces near-term costs and that lighting conduit is in place to simplify later electrical work.

Councilor Heisler made the motion to adopt the resolution authorizing the grant application and the council approved it unanimously.

The town will execute the documents required for the grant application, which the Arizona State Parks and Trails Board will review; the application is then routed to the National Park Service for further approval as part of the funding process.

The Pickleball Club said it will continue fundraising through the end of the year and that the club has been running free beginner lessons and skills clinics to grow participation. Club leaders and staff said they expect the project to be budgeted across multiple fiscal years and phased so the town can complete the work within the grant timeline.