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Pickleball organizers press Winnebago County for help as commissioners push for clearer fundraising plans
Summary
An Oshkosh Pickleball Club representative told the commission the planned Buena/Community Park courts would serve all ages and be ADA accessible; commissioners pressed the group for stronger fundraising steps after designers provided cost details in March and staff set May as the target for Park Spirit Fund allocations.
Mr. Abraham, identified in the meeting as the Oshkosh Pickleball Club board president, urged the Winnebago County Parks Commission to consider the proposed pickleball complex at Buena/Community Park as a widely accessible, low-barrier recreation option for residents and older adults. He said the courts are designed to be ADA-compliant, would attract a broad age range and social benefits, and that demand in the county exceeds available courts.
Mr. Abraham told commissioners the group has been working with parks staff and engineering consultants on design changes and that a finalized cost breakdown arrived in March; until then the group could not confidently approach potential donors. He described two fundraising approaches: seeking a contractor to underwrite most construction (he cited a ballpark contractor estimate of about $330,000 for court construction) or selling individual naming rights for eight courts at roughly $40,000$45,000 apiece.
Several commissioners pressed for more concrete fundraising steps. One commissioner said the pickleball group had previously sought full ARPA funding and had not demonstrated donor commitments, calling for tangible contributions or smaller initial fundraising gestures. Mr. Abraham responded that the group lacked firm cost details until March and has a plan to solicit major donors once the commission determines allocations and the budget gap.
Staff said the Park Spirit Fund process will continue: staff plans to meet with community groups and the county executive office this month and bring formal funding proposals to the commission on May 12 so groups can begin fundraising with an official county allocation in hand. Commissioners discussed naming-rights approaches and said staff should provide clear guidance about sponsorship packages before groups solicit donors.
