The Friends of Lake Panorama’s Beach Ball July 22 had a profit of $30,000. At its Sept. 19 meeting, the Friends board of directors decided some funds will be used for projects to be completed this fall, with remaining funds set aside for future projects.
The Friends board earmarked $17,500 of 2022 Beach Ball proceeds for a basketball half-court at Sunset Beach. The LPA board approved this project at its June 2021 meeting. Now plans have expanded to make it possible for those interested to also play pickleball on the court.
The idea of expanding the basketball court to include pickleball was raised at an informational meeting at Sunset Beach earlier this summer. Plans for a 40-feet by 50-feet court were underway, but going to 40-feet by 60-feet makes it possible to accommodate pickleball. A portable net on wheels will be stored to one side of the court.
Sport Construction Midwest, headquartered in Adel, was the vendor for the Boulder Beach sports courts and now is assisting with the Sunset Beach sports court. Once the concrete pad is ready, company employees will install a new Goalsetter MVP hoop, place sports court tile on the concrete, and paint lines for both basketball and pickleball. An eight-feet high fence and one gate will finish off this project.
Mark and Karen Einck, who matched donations of $25,000 for the Boulder Beach basketball court, now have donated $25,000 for the Sunset Beach court. Another $5,000 in donations also has been received. Donations for this project will continue to be accepted through Nov. 1, with donors of $500 or more recognized on a sign at the court. If more money is raised than needed for the court, extra funds will be used for one or more benches near the court.
Construction on the new sports court at Sunset Beach will begin in October, and weather permitting, the project will be done this fall.
The Friends board also voted to use $4,500 raised at the 2022 Beach Ball to purchase benches and trees for the Lake Panorama dog park. Two metal benches and four Autumn Blaze Maples from Isom Tree Farm have been purchased. The six-foot benches will be placed on concrete pads, with one near each of the two sugar maple trees donated and planted a year ago by Isom Tree Farm.
Larry Isom installed the four new maple trees Oct. 7, volunteering his time to plant and water the trees. Two went into each side of the dog park, and are planted so the three trees on each side will form a canopy of shade as they mature.
The dog park, which opened June 10, is available during daylight hours. There are two sides, one for large dogs and one for small dogs. It is at the corner of Sage Trail and East RV Road, near the east campground. The park was financed by $50,000 in donations through the Friends of Lake Panorama.
The remaining 2022 Beach Ball profits will be held in reserve until these projects are complete. Additional allocations will be made at a later date, with at least some going to support enhancements to the walking and cross country trail network on Lake Panorama’s south shore.
Tax-deductible donations to the Sunset Beach sports court, the south shore trail system, or the Friends general fund can be made at any time by check payable to Friends and mailed to Friends of Lake Panorama, PO Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Donations also can be made using VENMO @Panorama-Friends, or by credit card on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org.