Is "Pickleball" coming to Decorah?

"Pickleball" might be coming to Decorah.

You might not have heard of pickleball before, but the sport is catching on in other parts of the country.  It is played on a badminton court with the net lowered to 34 inches at the center. It uses a perforated plastic baseball (similar to a whiffle ball) and wood or composite paddles.

The Decorah Parks and Recreation Department is studying a proposal to construct a pickleball court at Mary Christopher Park on Water Street.  The Decorah City Council has not yet funded the project, but Park-Rec board members have begun talking about encouraging pickleball supporters to raise money towards the cost of the court.

The pickleball court--if it is approved--would cost an estimated $15,000 and would replace the horseshoe pits at the park, which no longer seem to be used much.