Lake Elmo council accepts pickleball equipment donation after parks commission raised safety and permanence concerns

Lake Elmo, Minn.

The Lake Elmo City Council voted to accept a donation of pickleball equipment from the Lake Elmo Pickleball Friends Club, approving two wooden benches, a paddle rack, a drink rack and a portable fence to divide courts while asking staff and the Parks Commission to further review materials and long-term inspection standards for benches and dividers.

Jim Bowler, the donor and a longtime local resident, described building the benches and temporary court dividers himself and said he would maintain the items. "I made them so people could have a chance to sit down between games and, you know, socialize, chitchat, rest," Bowler told the council, adding the benches are constructed of treated lumber and are sanded smooth to eliminate splinters. He said his portable court dividers are approximately two feet high and have been refined over several versions.

Parks staff (identified in the meeting as Mr. Roller) told the council the Parks Commission recommended accepting the paddle and beverage holders but wanted additional discussion with the donor about making benches and fencing more permanent or sourced from a reputable manufacturer and to assess liability and inspection standards. "Some of the concerns are having materials that aren't aluminum or permanent or longer sanding, as well as the staff that's doing the safety inspections of the equipment," Mr. Roller said.

Councilmembers expressing support for community contributions urged the Parks Commission to work with the donor on durability and safety; one staff member reminded the council that accepting donations can require a four-vote statutory threshold under city rules. The motion to accept the donation for the listed items carried on a voice vote; the transcript records ayes and the mayor announced the motion passed, but does not record a numeric roll call tally.