Portales, NM – June 16, 2023 – The grand opening of the new pickleball courts at Eastern New Mexico University will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 21, at 4 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce.

The pickleball courts, located at the ENMU Vetville Recreation Area, were created this spring. Two ENMU tennis courts were renovated into eight pickleball courts, allowing up to 32 players at a time. The new courts are open to people of all ages.

The eight new courts were paid for through generous donations made by long-time Portales community members and ENMU supporters Max and June Merrick and Scott and Jane Christianson.

"We greatly appreciate the generosity of Max, June, Scott, and Jane to make this happen," said James Johnston, ENMU President. "It is truly a recreational gift to the campus and community. My wife and I have already purchased our equipment! We look forward to learning the game and seeing others from the community on campus enjoying the courts."

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with 36.5 million players in the country as of January 2023. It combines many elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong and can be played as doubles or singles enjoyed by all ages and skill levels.

For more information on the ribbon-cutting ceremony, please contact the ENMU Foundation at [email protected].