From left, Camden Ewing and Dan Hatch (Hatch Grading & Contracting, Inc.), Wendy Riggle, Deb Oliver, Mary Jo Kavalier, Georgia Reiter, Peg Mullen, Jannie Wauters, Reta Callahan, Tim Glenn and Mary Wankowicz (Dysart Mayor and City Council member), Ruth Laackmann, Janet Wilson, and Pat Beck break ground on the new pickleball courts in Dysart City Park on April 15. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

DYSART – The Dysart Pickleball Organization (DPO) along with city leaders and local contractors held a groundbreaking ceremony for the City’s new pickleball courts on Tuesday, April 15, in Dysart City Park following a race to the finish by DPO members to secure more than $50,000 in funding.

According to DPO’s Peg Mullen, fundraising was completed with help from the City of Dysart as well as through grant writing; $19,000 was raised directly by DPO members through various local events.

“We were in jeopardy of losing a $20,000 grant if all of the $54,000 for the project was not secured,” Mullen told the newspaper. “So, we have been busy fundraising through Union [CSD] concession stand work, many bake sales, hosting a Music Bingo night, pickleball tournaments, soup luncheons, more bake sales, t-shirt sales including special St. Patrick’s Day shirt sales sponsored by the City of Dysart, raffle ticket sales, and we are currently doing a Facebook calendar event for April.”

The Vision Dysart ‘Flannel Festival’ which was held downtown last month also helped DPO avoid a pickling of their fundraising efforts.

“We put the ‘fun’ in fundraisers, that is for sure!” Mullen continued. “The Dysart community and surrounding areas, as well as many individuals, have been pivotal in helping with this project!”

If all goes to plan, Mullen said the new courts will open in time for DPO’s second annual Fourth of July tournament. A dedication of the new courts will be held in tandem.

On April 10, the City of Dysart received a $10,000 grant from the Tama County Community Foundation for surface and fencing at the new pickleball courts as part of the Foundation’s 2025 grant cycle.

For more information on the new courts or to join DPO, contact Peg Mullen at 319-415-0238.