BSCO seeking community donations for remaining $180K needed
By Jack Reaney ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Tennis and pickleball players in Big Sky mobilized quickly this summer to resurface the aging courts that have deteriorated quickly near the end of their 40-plus years at the Big Sky Community Park.
“It got to the point where we said, we need to do something major to them, or we won’t have anything to play on next summer,” Mike Scholz, a Big Sky resident and leader of the effort to renovate the courts, told EBS in a phone call. “They’re at the point where if they crack up much more, it would be dangerous to play on them.”
Scholz’ group of activists, made up of dozens of tennis and pickleball players in the community, did the research and found a solution to resurface the courts using post-tension concrete with a 50-year warranty. The catch is that the entire project costs about $1 million, and the group needed to help the Big Sky Community Organization raise that money in August alone.
The effort came together in the past six weeks, because leaders realized the importance of starting construction this fall to allow for completion in the spring, saving the 2025 summer season for pickleball and tennis players. Future improvements were already planned by BSCO, which owns and manages the Big Sky Community Park, but the community group helped to accelerate the renovation.
Scholz said one anonymous donor gave $500,000 and another gave $100,000, which helped show other donors that the effort is serious. Although BSCO did not yet have complete funding set aside for the project, the nonprofit signed the contract to do the construction without all the money in hand—about $720,000 had been raised by the time BSCO signed the contract on Aug. 21.
“This is a great collaboration between community donors and BSCO fundraising,” said CEO Whitney Montgomery.
He said construction will be significant. Necessary renovation includes replacing sidewalks, resurfacing and expanding pickleball space from six to eight dedicated courts and making extra space on the end lines. The project will also preserve two dedicated tennis courts, and the entire facility will have fences and nets replaced.
Additional funding will be needed to improve facilities including the tennis building, restrooms, parking lots, and to possibly add a retail pro shop, Montgomery explained.
The million-dollar project is part of BSCO’s All Out for Parks and Trails campaign, which includes recent construction of a new playground, skate park and pump track at the park, and plans to renovate sand volleyball and basketball courts, and athletic fields at the park.
When the fundraising for pickleball and tennis is complete, BSCO will have secured $6 million toward its $15 million goal—almost $2 million has been granted by the Big Sky Resort Area District. Montgomery said the progress has been “phenomenal” since the campaign launched in July 2023.
But the job isn’t done yet, as Scholz, his group, and BSCO are still working to secure roughly $180,000 to cover the project. Scholz said the group is working hard to secure donations, and they have continued to receive support from dozens of families.
“We are reaching out to anyone in the community that has an interest in pickleball or tennis, or has an interest in helping us complete a vital part of the park,” Scholz said.
Donations can be made through BSCO’s All Out website, and by adding a note regarding pickleball or tennis court construction.
Scholz said pickleball is a great way to keep the whole community active. He sees a wide age range of players at the Big Sky courts, from kids and young workers to folks in their 80s, as tennis and especially pickleball gain popularity.
Montgomery is excited about the project because the sports bring people together in line with BSCO’s mission.
“It’s going to be a great facility,” he said. “There’s a 50-year warranty on these courts, so we feel this investment is well worth it for our community… Right now this is what the pickleball community and the tennis community feel they need.”
