Grants
Project Name: Veterans Park Pickleball and Tennis Courts Resurfacing
Project Location: Village of Genoa
The fastest growing sport in America, pickleball, has officially come to western Ottawa County. The Village of Genoa has completed construction of four new pickleball courts, and one new tennis court, in Genoa’s Veterans Memorial Park along the North Coast Inland Trail (NCIT). This project was made possible by $40,000 of financial assistance from the Park District of Ottawa County’s 2024 Parks and Trails Improvement Grant.
The project area was originally constructed in the 1990s, and held two tennis courts. By redesigning the layout, the Village and Park District were able to construct four pickleball courts while preserving the north-south orientation (to avoid issues with sunset). All of the existing asphalt was removed, and three inches of new asphalt was installed to remove any existing cracks and uneven areas. An acrylic athletic surfacing was then installed for professional-grade court quality.
In addition to the paved courts, a 40-ft. paved entrance trail was also constructed. This currently ties into a stone access trail and provides access to the NCIT and other park amenities such as the new park bathroom.
The completed project now gives Genoa the first publicly-owned pickleball court in western Ottawa County. The interest generated by having local pickleball courts has already encouraged nearly three dozen Genoa high school students to start a “Pickleball Club” with the intent of forming a varsity team.