Havasu Pickleball Enthusiasts Illuminate City Courts with $35K Donation

The Lake Havasu City Pickleball Association has donated $35,000 to the city’s Parks and Recreation Board to install lighting at the Dick Samp Park courts. The donation was presented by Ginger Sundin, the association’s treasurer, at the board meeting on Monday night. This latest donation brings the association’s total contributions to $50,000, following an earlier donation.

Anthony Kozlowski, Assistant to the City Manager, praised the collaboration. “This is another great opportunity for the association and the city to work together on a project to light some of those courts, and make those courts available not only during the day, but also during the night,” Kozlowski said.

City Council member David Lane lauded the achievement. “It really goes to show that if you really want something, if you’re willing to do the hard work and get out there and do some of the fundraising, it makes it much easier for the city to then do their part and step up as well,” he noted.

Janie Morris, president of the association, highlighted the effort behind the initiative. According to Morris, members identified lighting as the top priority in a January 2024 survey. “We are the only sport in Lake Havasu City that doesn’t have lights in our outdoor courts,” she emphasized, contrasting with other sports like volleyball, baseball, soccer, and football.

The funds were accumulated through memberships and various fundraisers and will facilitate a four-court lighting system, likely to be installed at the lower courts in Dick Samp Park. “We are really wanting to expand pickleball play for those who work and want to play after work, especially in the winter when it gets darker earlier, or early mornings in the summer,” Morris explained.

The association aims to have the lighting installed before the snowbird season begins, helping to manage court congestion by allowing nighttime play. “Our goal is to have it in before the snowbird season goes into full swing, and that will help offset the crowds at the outdoor courts if you can get people playing at night too,” Morris added.

In addition to this donation, the association has previously funded bleachers, shade structures, and fencing for pickleball facilities. “We partner with the city, and we either buy or hand them the money to go get it, and they install it for us,” she stated, remarking on the effective collaboration.

The Lake Havasu City Pickleball Association boasts nearly 500 members and continues to support the sport’s growth in the community.