North Morrow
Volume XXXIII
Number 7 December 6, 2024
TIMES
FREE MONTHLY PUBLICATION
CAR RT. PERMIT 2 ECR-WSS BOARDMAN, OR
FREE
Irrigon Pickleball Club dedicates courts
Pickleball History: Park Board asking if they just under $157,000 was doPickleball is a hybrid sport would be willing to provide land nated. The Port of Morrow docombining elements of tennis, for the development of nated all the excavation work badminton, and pingpong. It pickleball courts. needed and Rock Enterprises was invented in 1965 by three Phyllis Danielson said “This was selected to build the four guys in Washington who was Janet’s baby, she was like court complex. wanted a fun game for their a relentless bulldog, and she This process spanned three kids to play. It is currently the didn’t stop until she got what years. In addition, the Irrigon fastest growing sport in the she wanted.” The park board Pickleball Club collected bottles US. People of all and cans, sold ages can enjoy the hotdogs, raffled sport. It’s easy to items, and collearn. Words associlected donations ated with the game for building the are pickle, kitchen, courts. The courts dink, drop, and slam. were completed on Irrigon Pickleball: November 8, 2024 Yvette and Don with the Grand Hollis, long time Opening on NoIrrigon residents vember 9th. turned snowbirds, reThe Irrigon turned from a winter Pickleball Club in Arizona and now has 55 memshared a new game bers from Irrigon, they had learned to Umatilla, Herplay called miston, and StanPickleball. In 2013 a field. All are welhandful of their come to use the friends learned to courts at no cost play and they reand players are encruited others. The couraged to join group of regular the club. They players established Janet Pace, leader of the Irrigon Pickleball Club cut the provide the balls, an Irrigon Pickleball ribbon to dedicate the new field. She was so surprised but players must Club in 2018. have their own In the beginning when Phyllis Danielson and crew unveiled the new sign. paddles. Eventuthe group played on ally they hope to the town’s tennis courts and in via the Corp of Engineers ap- offer lessons to those who are the gym at A.C. Houghton El- proved the use of a section of interested in playing the sport. ementary School. The club had land at the Marina Park for Anyone who is interested can to make adjustments to court pickleball courts to be built. follow Irrigon Pickleball Club size and net height. While this Janet and the club members, on Facebook to learn their play provided an acceptable place to with help from Phil Hamm de- schedule. play, the club dreamed of devel- veloped a grant proposal for the They would like to thank evoping dedicated pickleball building of the courts and were eryone who donated their time courts in Irrigon. granted the money needed by and money to Irrigon for their Janet Pace, the leader of the the Morrow County Unified dream of having Pickleball club, approached the Irrigon Recreation District. A total of courts.
Once the Pickleball courts were dedicated, the crowd didn’t waste any time starting up a friendly game or two with kids ages from 9 to 90