Pickleball players are hoping to raise enough funds for a half-million-dollar project to build new publicly accessible courts on South Whidbey.

In 2023, the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District received a $452,000 grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office that requires $50,000 in matching funds. Whidbey Island Pickleball, an informal alliance of players and groups, agreed to raise the money from community donations.

As of Nov. 3, 110 individuals have contributed $37,600 to the campaign, which is about 75% of the goal. Barry Haworth of Whidbey Island Pickleball said they aim to raise $50,000 by the end of December.

The project is currently in the design and permitting phase. The parks and rec department plans to go out to bid for construction in January or February 2025 with the goal of opening the courts in late summer or early fall next year, Executive Director Brian Tomisser said.

Interest in the official state sport has grown on Whidbey Island over the past few years. On the South End, players gather on temporary courts set up in the parking lot of the South Whidbey Sports Complex during warmer months. They pay to play indoors at the South Whidbey Community Center multipurpose gym year-round.

The six new courts include an accessible court, which has more room for players of all abilities to move about. They will be located at the South Whidbey Sports Complex but in a different area from the temporary courts.

So far, Haworth said, the pickleball community hasn’t been able to expand much to include younger players, like kids.

“When those courts are available and the nets are there, that’s completely open to a new demographic that can come and play,” he said.

As an added bonus, the new outdoor courts will be free to use and will not cost taxpayers anything to build.

“There’s a lack of recreational facilities here on the South End, and I personally would like to see that extended beyond the courts,” Haworth said.

South Whidbey Parks and Aquatics Foundation, a nonprofit entity, is the fiscal sponsor for Whidbey Island Pickleball. Visit secure.qgiv.com/for/whidbeyislandpickleballwip/ to donate or visit whidbeyispickleball.org to learn more about the project.