Knight Point State Park – An Update
Through the off-season, Court Perry, Paul O’Leary, Dee Steffan, and Tim O’Reilly have been working with representatives from the Vermont State Parks and Engineering Ventures, a Burlington engineering firm, on the final KPSP designs and permitting issues. Progress has been made and we’re hopeful the permitting will go smoothly and the Request-for-Proposals will be issued in late spring or early summer. Depending on the permitting requirements and the returned bids, the project budget may need to be adjusted. We anticipate court construction will occur this year, but probably not soon enough to see much playing time this season.
Thanks to a $3,000 anonymous matching donation offered at the end of 2023, we saw a $6,000 surge in donations. Including the State’s $20,000 contribution, we now have $107,618 of the approximately $120,000 needed to build the four courts. We will continue to fundraise the remaining $13,000 or more, but the State has indicated our current fundraising level is enough to move forward with the KPSP project.
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Latest IPA News!!!
- Engage Pickleball has granted all Islands Pickleball Association (IPA) members a 20% IPA club discount; see Good Deals on New Equipment for more details as well as discounts from other vendors.
- Isle LaMotte Court Fencing: New fencing was installed around the courts in Isle LaMotte in 2023; this is a great addition and will help in preserving the investments made by both the Town of Isle LaMotte and the IPA; see the IPA Photo Gallery for more pictures.
- Alpine Shop, Vermont’s largest pickleball shop, is proud to become the locally owned retail sponsor of the IPA. IPA members will receive 10% OFF Pickleball paddles, balls, shoes & all casual clothing; see Good Deals on New Equipment for more details.
- North Here Courts: The North Hero school courts were re-surfaced in late 2023 and have new lines; they will be ready for lots of pickleball once school is out. Check the Playtime Scheduler for new schedule and the IPA Photo Gallery page for more pictures.
- Need a New Paddle? The Islands Pickleball Association (IPA) is pleased to provide its members with three options for purchasing new pickleball paddles or other pickleball equipment at discounted prices.
- For more details go to Good Deals on New Equipment.
- Donaldson Shed delivered and leveled by Court, Moose and Tim in 2023; Great Job and Thank You!
- New Pickleball Machine: There is a now a pickleball machine available for IPA members use at Donaldson. Please read the Safety Precautions and Instructions for use and see Court Perry for access into the shed.
Introduction to Islands Pickleball Association
The Islands Pickleball Association, Inc. (IPA) has the stated mission “to promote the game of Pickleball, and to provide for organization of Pickleball programs and activities in Vermont’s Grand Isle County”. Pickleball is similar to tennis, and is played on a smaller court with a net, paddle and ball. It has increased in popularity over the past ten years, particularly among the senior population. Pickleball promotes increased activity, physical and mental wellness and social networking for all, which is particularly helpful in the senior citizens in the islands.
The IPA offers introductory pickleball sessions each summer. With more courts and more volunteer instructors, interest in Champlain Islands Pickleball continues to expand each summer, and IPA membership continues to grow. In the broader view, pickleball continues to be the fastest growing sport in the nation, and accordingly, will impact the growth of pickleball in the Champlain Islands.