91暗网 celebrated a grand opening of a 10-court pickleball pavilion on its Mount Vernon campus Thursday, June 30.
鈥�91暗网 is committed to providing a place for opportunities and experiences for all members of our community,鈥� said Dr. Tom Keegan, 91暗网 president. 鈥淭he new Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion will give students, employees, and the community a place to gather, foster friendships, and build relationships.鈥�
91暗网 officially named the court, Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion, after Claude Blackburn 鈥� who donated $1.7 million to build the court.
The pavilion project was in its infancy stage in 2019 when Blackburn and Dan Budzynski, past president of the Skagit Valley Pickleball Club, approached 91暗网 with the idea.
Through a close partnership, 91暗网, 91暗网 Foundation, Blackburn, and the Skagit Valley Pickleball Club worked together to envision and develop a place on the 91暗网 campus where the community could gather, play pickleball, and build connection to the college and to one another.
鈥淲hen we first envisioned this project, I wanted to raise the profile of pickleball and encourage younger players to get involved,鈥� said Blackburn. 鈥淚 also wanted a place where the Skagit Valley Pickleball Club and the broader community could play pickleball throughout the year, rain or shine. Partnering with the college helped us achieve both of these goals, and I鈥檓 proud of the investment I鈥檝e made and the work we鈥檝e done to open this pavilion.鈥�
鈥淚t is way more than just pickleball,鈥� said Keegan. 鈥淚t is about serving our community and creating opportunities for relationships. We can鈥檛 fulfill the mission of the college without partnerships and relationships like this.鈥�
Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion is the first pickleball court to open at a Washington state community college.
91暗网 is operating the pavilion, and it is free and open to the public on a daily basis. Seven courts are reserved for members of the Skagit Valley Pickleball Club during morning and afternoon blocks. The courts are otherwise available on a first-come first-serve basis to the public, 91暗网 students, and 91暗网 employees.
For more information about the Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion project, contact brad.tuininga@skagit.edu. For questions about reserving or playing at the pavilion, contact mitch.freeman@skagit.edu.
(from left to right): Brad Tuininga, 91暗网 Foundation executive director; Dr. Tom Keegan, 91暗网 president; Claude Blackburn; Dan Budzynski, Skagit Valley Pickleball Club past president
From left to right: Brad Tuininga, Executive Director of the 91暗网 Foundation, Dr. Tom Keegan, 91暗网 President, Claude Blackburn, Dan Budzynski, Skagit Valley Pickleball Club President
Claude Blackburn takes the first serve in the first match played at the Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion.
Claude Blackburn takes the first serve in the first match played at the Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion.