Children dash across the Dysart City Park tennis courts last Sunday afternoon. The space has been used for over a year by members of the Dysart Pickleball Organization as makeshift pickleball courts. The local group is currently working to fundraise $55,000 toward new pickleball courts which would be built east of the basketball court and south of the tennis courts. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

DYSART – The Dysart Pickleball Organization is going strong with 30 members from different surrounding areas. We want to inform and update the public on our progress regarding the design and construction of two new pickleball courts in Dysart City Park.

We plan to start construction in Spring 2025 after we raise $23,000 more to fulfill our $55,000 project budget. The new courts will be east of the existing basketball court and south of the existing tennis courts with asphalt base, a sports surface for pickleball, and a fence surrounding the courts for protection and keeping the balls in the area. We have a few more fundraisers to hold and grants to submit.

Upcoming fundraiser

Please join us for our next fundraiser which is a Soup Luncheon set for Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025 (Jan. 26 as backup if weather issue), from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dysart Community Building (lower lever). This will be a freewill donation event. Soups being served include chicken tortilla, chili, vegetable beef, and potato along with peanut butter sandwich and a cookie/bar. Pick up in the back alley is available; call the Community Building kitchen at 319-476-2288 to order which soup you would want ready.

Membership and donations

Anyone can become a Dysart Pickleball Organization member which affords you the opportunity to play this winter in either the D-G Elementary School or the Union Middle School gyms. Membership is $40 for a single and $50 for a family.

We also accept donations throughout the year. Donation levels are as follows: $25 Pickle Friend, $50 Pickle Ball, $100 Pickle Paddle, $250 Gherkin Pickle, $500 Sweet Pickle, and $1,000 + Sweetest Pickle.

Donations can be sent to Jannie’s Venmo @Janis-Wauters, or send a check to Jannie Wauters, Box 83, Dysart, IA 52224.