SOUTH HADLEY – The Friends of Buttery Brook have spearheaded a fundraising project along with the town of South Hadley to raise funds for the new pickleball court at Buttery Brook Park.

According to Kim Prough, chair of the Pickleball Court Committee, their budget is $87,000, and they have raised $67,000. She said People’s Bank “kicked off” their fundraising campaign with a $20,000 donation. Falling in line, the Friends of the Buttery Brook Park also made a financial commitment of $20,000 along with The Friends of the South Hadley Seniors, local businesses and individuals. She said they are still seeking donations to bridge the gap.

Prough said, “Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the world. It’s also the fastest-growing sport among seniors, and that’s why it is so important for us. South Hadley has a large senior, and growing population. We currently have over 19 percent of our residents aged 65, and older, and almost 32 percent are aged 55 and older, and that’s expected to grow significantly over the next 15 years.”

She said having a pickleball court would be a great asset to the South Hadley community for all ages, and it would be a nice addition to Buttery Brook Park. She noted that the pickleball courts align with three areas of Master Plan objectives. The first is connectivity, which is bringing people together, the second is recreational and the third is the revitalization of Buttery Brook Park.

She added, “Because the location of these pickleball courts will go in an unused kind of piece of asphalt, it hasn’t been used for the last couple years, it was the old skateboard park. So it’s been sitting unused, it’s a very prominent, beautiful section of the park. So, it will revitalize that and bring a lot of new people to the park, which we’re super excited about from a Friends’ standpoint.”

Linda Young, clerk for the Friends of Buttery Brook also feels this will “add a new dimension to the park” and added, “I just think this pickleball court is very important to the Friends. But it is just going to be a cornerstone of what we’re hoping to do within the park. And we’re hoping that the people who come to play at this pickleball court will also see the need to perhaps volunteer once, twice or maybe even three times, you know, at cruise nights, which we’re hoping to re-access a date, or our concerts or whatever else we’ve got going – one hand feeds into the other.”

Prough said they are shooting to have the court open for June of this year, and the fundraising will be ongoing until they close the gap.

They are still accepting donations and those interested can send them to P.O. Box 868 South Hadley, MA. 01075. Checks should be made payable to “The Friends of Buttery Brook Park,” and in the memo line specify it is for the “pickleball court.” To note: The Friends of Buttery Brook Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and deductions, or contributions are tax deductible.