Frankenmuth, Michigan, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $50,000 by August 22, 2025, to build eight new public pickleball courts near the city’s office and public safety complex. Supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the City of Frankenmuth, the campaign will receive a matching grant through the Public Spaces Community Places program if the goal is met. The courts will be free and accessible to all residents, providing seating and parking, and aim to promote physical activity, social connection, and positive public health outcomes.
The project originated from local pickleball enthusiasts who sought a permanent home for the sport, which has been played in Frankenmuth for over a decade. The initiative is part of a broader state effort involving the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Municipal League, and crowdfunding platform Patronicity, which has supported over 400 projects since 2014. Leaders emphasize pickleball’s growing popularity and its benefits for community wellbeing, with the Public Spaces Community Places program having awarded more than $14.3 million in matching grants to date.
