New Baltimore officials are looking to secure nearly $1 million in grant funding for proposed harbor upgrades and the construction of new pickleball courts. The popular paddle sport may soon be coming to the city, as plans have been proposed to develop six new ADA-accessible pickleball courts at Festival Park. Other improvements at the 31-acre park are also proposed.
To help fund the project, the city is seeking $150,000 from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Recreation Passport grant program. The total project cost is estimated to be $508,000. If awarded the grant, the city will contribute the remaining $358,000 during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, unless it declines the funding.
Adam Abraham, the city’s parks and recreation director, said additional funding for the project is anticipated from organizations, private donors and events.
“I think that parks and recs has done a good job securing what they need,” Mayor Tom Semaan said at a March 24 city council meeting.
“I would say that based on the continual requests from the residents of the community and through the parks and recs department, this would be welcomed,” he added.
To help mitigate noise, a tree bank is proposed for the north side of the pickleball courts at the north end of the park, which is located off St. Clair Drive.
“We’ll do our best to mitigate that. With that park, we didn’t feel there was really any other location besides that area,” Abraham said, noting space to the south is being saved for a future comfort station.
Pickleball was invented in 1965 by three dads on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington, according to USA Pickleball. The game’s original handmade equipment and simple rules have evolved into a popular sport throughout the U.S. and Canada. Pickleball is also growing internationally, with many European and Asian countries adding courts.
The city council voted on March 24 to adopt a resolution approving the submission of the Recreation Passport grant program application to the DNR. According to the resolution, the city’s application is supported by the community’s five-year approved parks and recreation plan and current annual capital improvement plan.
Recreation Passport grants provide funding to local units for the development of public recreation facilities. The DNR awards 10% of the revenue from Recreation Passport sales — nearly $2 million —to local communities for park development and improvement projects.
Source: https://www.voicenews.com/2025/04/01/new-baltimore-seeking-grants-for-harbor-upgrades-pickleball-courts/