YOU'VE BEEN SERVED. Lake Hallie officially welcomed the largest pickleball complex in the area – and in Wisconsin – at the end of July.

Brought to life in less than one year, the Lake Hallie Pickleball Courts at Gower Park are officially open and have already hosted locals and out-of-state players.

The $500,000 project – funded by a variety of backers including the Village of Lake Hallie, Markquart Motors, and the Chippewa Valley Pickleball Club (CVPC) – only took about seven months to construct after breaking ground at the beginning of the year thanks to unseasonably warm weather. Adding these 12 courts to Gower Park’s original six have resulted in an 18-court complex, making it not only the largest in the Chippewa Valley but in the entire state.

While a ribbon cutting was held Monday, July 29, the expanded complex had already hosted a tournament the weekend before. A five-day tournament is currently being planned to take place next July.

The new courts are individually fenced to help players control balls while playing. They also include light posts to illuminate some of the courts once the sun goes down, and an adjacent 64-stall parking lot. A permanent bathroom facility was also added.

Pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport for the third year running and is popular across several age groups. According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals, there are roughly 36.5 million pickleball players across the nation. In the Chippewa Valley, the CVPC is made up of nearly 600 members.

CVPC frequently hosts Intro to Pickleball classes at local courts, and hosts a variety of pickleball leagues and events from Round Robin nights to mixed leagues and more.

The Lake Hallie Pickleball Courts (located at the corner of 115th Street and 17th Avenue) are free to use • Interested in the Chippewa Valley Pickleball Club? Visit their website