$100,000 fundraiser to renovate Riverside Park tennis courts kicks off


GRAND FORKS – A fundraiser is underway to raise money for renovations for the Terry Paukert Tennis Complex at Riverside Park.

The fundraiser kicked off last week at the state boys’ tennis tournament. The goal is to raise $100,000 to renovate the courts, add bleachers and restrooms, and improve the entrance to the courts.

As part of this project, the courts were renamed to honor Terry Paukert, a Grand Forks tennis legend who is active in the tennis community, won the United States Tennis Association C. Burton Junior Development Award, and continues to coach tennis to Grand Forks’ young athletes at Riverside Park each summer.

Earlier this year, Marc Nielsen and Tom Spicer approached the Grand Forks Park District about doing a fundraiser and renovating the courts while honoring Paukert’s generosity to the community.

“He’s given so much to so many things so much more than just athletics,” Nielsen said. “He is someone special and deserves some recognition for that.”

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According to Nielsen, the big goal is renovating the courts and making the surface more usable. Nielsen, Spicer, and the Grand Forks Parks and Recreation Foundation are conducting the fundraiser which has raised $700 so far. The estimated cost for the renovation of the four tennis courts at the complex is $60,000.

“The sky’s the limit,” Nielsen said. “The goal right now is to make the courts more usable with the surface we have, but then also improve the ability for viewership and make it more aesthetically pleasing.”

More information about the fundraiser and project can be found at the Grand Forks Parks and Recreation Foundation website at

www.gfparksfoundation.org/terry-paukert-tennis-complex-renovation/

where links to the donation page can also be found.

Matthew Voigt

By
Matthew Voigt

Voigt covers city government in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.


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