MUSKEGO — The Muskego-Norway School District is in the initial stages of discussing a potential partnership with the City of Muskego and a local pickleball club to renovate its cracking tennis courts.
School Board President Terri Boyer said the district has a longstanding history of being able to work with different organizations within the community.
“We have coupled with the City of Muskego for different projects. The idea was floated of possibly partnering with a club and city to help meet their needs for pickleball courts and our need of replacing our tennis courts which are due to be reconstructed,” Boyer said.
The Business Services/Student Experience/ Legislative Advocacy Committee met on Monday for an initial discussion. Committee meetings are not recorded. This meeting was the first opportunity for the board to hear about and discuss this potential partnership publicly.
“Decisions made at that level (committee) are to ask administration for more information to answer questions or concerns and once they feel those are answered they will recommend it go forward to the full board or not move forward to the full board. The full board meeting is the only place this would be voted on,” Boyer said.
She added that they have discussions all the time about things at the committee and board meetings that never move forward. This idea was floated and required a transparent conversation at committee level.
At this stage, the district is seeking the board’s support to further investigate the merit of this potential partnership and funding plan, not to approve a final project.
The replacement of the tennis courts would begin in spring 2026.
Over the last 24 months, the tennis courts have been cracking to the point that they are beyond maintenance repair.
The tentative agreement would provide $300,000 from a pickleball club and $200,000 from the City of Muskego.
This project would completely replace the surface, fencing, create a gallery within the playing area, and add lights. The design will include 12 dedicated courts which would have sleeves to convert into four tennis courts.
The district was aware there was confusion over the project on social media. Boyer said unfortunately there was a social media blowup which provided inaccurate information. She said there was an impression that they would turn all of the tennis courts into pickleball courts, which wasn’t true.
“The proposed design would not reduce the number of tennis courts. Instead, the plan is to create a multi-use facility. This means four of the existing 12 tennis court areas would be designed as dual-purpose, allowing for their use as four tennis courts or 12 pickleball courts,” the district clarified in the agenda item description.
Boyer added right now this is a conversation about a possible project.
If the board approves the funding plan, the district would immediately begin drafting a written agreement with both organizations outlining contractual obligations. That agreement and the project would be brought back to the School Board for approval. The district’s activities department supports this proposal, and the district has provided its co-curricular schedule to the city/club, so they are aware of high school use.
Pickleball popularity
The sport of pickleball has picked up steam across multiple age groups. Boyer admits she doesn’t play the game as she “might blow out a knee.” The high school doesn’t have a pickleball club but there are convertible courts that are used inside for physical education.
“It wouldn’t be a far-fetched idea, in my mind, that this sport trickles down to younger ages,” she said.
For Boyer if there were pickleball courts outside, it wouldn’t be an improbability that phy-ed classes would utilize them if it is nice out.
Physical education has changed since the ’70s and ’80s when there were classes on square dancing and roller skating.
“It is fun for them and I would much rather do that than square dancing,” she said with a laugh.
Boyer added the district is so appreciative of the fact that they partner with different groups, businesses and organizations to make things such as possible outdoor pickleball courts a reality.
“We live in a very supportive community and partner with many businesses, clubs, youth groups and the city on many projects. Most districts do not have such amazing relationships. We are very lucky and grateful,” Boyer said.