McLane Park has long been recognized for its memorable walking route, and five baseball/softball fields, and it will soon be the new home of the fastest-growing sport.
With the donation of a new facility by the Underwood Family Foundation, McLane Park will be getting four new pickleball courts.
The Director of Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation, Lanny Corcimiglia, said the idea of finding a place for pickleball was presented to him by Bill and Myra Smith. Bill's sister Linda and her husband Gary Underwood had previously built pickleball courts in Wisconsin and St. James and wanted to bring one to her hometown.
“Pickleball is the fastest growing sport, and everyone knows that,” Smith said. “It’s just really contagious once you start playing. I’ve played many sports, and pickleball is a lot easier for me at my age. It’s just fun for everyone.”
Myra said they were first introduced to pickleball after playing at Lind’s home, and they’ve been playing ever since. As an avid pickleball player, she said groups usually have to play at the Black River Coliseum, which isn’t always promised because of the nonstop events. If not at the coliseum, players have to share the tennis courts and according to Myra, having a space dedicated to pickleball will be great for the community.
“It’s a sport that anyone can play, whether young or old, and we hope that everyone embraces the sport, comes together and has fun,” she said.
As for the timetable for when everything will begin on the new facility, Sargent Construction president Renee Sargent-Harrison said the work is planned to start in the next three weeks and if everything goes as planned, they should be wrapped around December. The facility will include four pickleball courts, lighting to provide play at night and a picnic area, which she believes will be great for the area.
Corcimiglia said the Underwood Family Foundation requested the location for the pickleball courts. He said everyone approved once the request came across the schedule for the Parks and Rec board to vote. Corcimiglia said they’ve been quite busy this summer with many projects within the area and that the pickleball courts won’t be the only new facility at McLane Park.
“The neat thing about McLane is that we have the space to bring many things to the area while still keeping that same feel,” Corcimiglia said. “It’s great that one will be pickleball and the other will be a playground for the children. It will make this a destination park where you can play baseball, softball, pickleball, play area and of course the walking path, so it adds many new dimensions to the park.”