If you’re in Choteau and looking for a new way to stay active, we’ve got some great news for you! The Choteau Lions Club has just set up a temporary pickleball court at the Choteau Lions Recreational Courts, and it’s ready for you to enjoy. You’ll find the courts right across from the Choteau Lions Club Pool, so it’s easy to swing by and start playing.
We’re all eagerly awaiting the final touches on the courts—things like the proper surfacing and line painting—but that won’t happen until early to mid-September when our contractor arrives. In the meantime, we didn’t want to keep you waiting, so we’ve put together a temporary setup to get you on the court sooner.
Now, don’t worry if you notice the basketball and tennis courts don’t have their permanent lines yet. We’ve marked out the pickleball court using good old blue painter’s tape. It might not be fancy, but it works! We’ve also brought in some portable pickleball nets, so you can dive right into a game without any delay.
A big shoutout to everyone who’s helped make these court improvements possible. The project has been funded by a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, the City of Choteau, DGI Concrete, proceeds from our hunter gun raffles, and, of course, the generous donations and memorials from our incredible Choteau community. It’s a real team effort, and we couldn’t have done it without you.
If you’re new to pickleball, here’s a quick rundown: it’s a super fun sport that’s a bit like tennis, badminton, and ping-pong all rolled into one. And it’s been gaining quite the following here in Choteau! If you’re curious about the game or want to give it a try, Judy Singer, one of our local residents and an experienced player, is here to help. Judy’s offering to be a point of contact for anyone who wants to learn or join in. You can reach her at 406-312-0517 after September 5th to ask questions or schedule a time to play.
We’ve got the court and the net covered, but you’ll need to bring your own paddles and balls. If you’re just starting out and don’t have your own gear yet, don’t worry—Judy might have some extra paddles available during scheduled sessions. The portable net will stay at the court for everyone’s convenience, and we’re trusting the community to use it responsibly. If everyone pitches in and treats the equipment with care, we hope to keep this setup going strong.
Keep in mind that once the contractor finishes the final surfacing and line painting, the courts will need to be closed temporarily so the new surface can cure. We’ll keep you posted on when that happens, but until then, we hope you’ll make the most of this opportunity to enjoy pickleball and other activities while the weather’s still nice.
As a bit of background, the Choteau Lions Club has been around since 1927, and we’re proud to be a part of Lions Clubs International. We’re all about serving our community, and this court project is just one of the many ways we try to give back. If you’d like to support the new courts or any of our other projects, you can make a donation at https://foundation.choteaulions.club. And if you’re interested in joining the Choteau Lions Club, we’d love to have you! Just head over to https://choteaulions.club/contact-us to learn more.
So grab your paddles, round up some friends, and come on out to enjoy some pickleball at the Choteau Lions Recreational Courts! We can’t wait to see you out there.
