A community effort to rehabilitate deteriorating pickleball courts in Kellogg cleared a significant hurdle after the Innovia Foundation awarded Kellogg Project Uplift a $10,000 grant — one of six grants the foundation directed to Shoshone County organizations as part of a broader $1.3 million regional funding round.
The grant brings the Silver Valley project noticeably closer to its construction goal, though organizers say they still need to close a roughly $5,000 gap before work can begin in earnest. If funding comes together, the courts could be ready for public use as early as spring or summer of the following season.
Courts in Need of a Full Overhaul
The pickleball facility sits on Kellogg School District property adjacent to Silver Mountain Resort’s Silver Rapids Waterpark — a location that reflects a partnership between the district and the resort that has been in place for approximately three years. The courts were originally aging tennis courts that were converted for pickleball use, but over time their condition has deteriorated well beyond what routine maintenance can fix.
Patching and repainting have proved insufficient to restore a playable surface. Paige Olsen, involved with the project, put it plainly: “The surface is in such bad shape that some heavier funding is needed to make them actually usable.”
Grant funds from Innovia are designated to cover site preparation, materials, equipment, and installation — exactly the kind of heavier intervention the project requires. With $10,000 now secured, the focus shifts to raising the remaining balance needed to reach a full construction budget.
Innovia’s Regional Reach Into North Idaho
The Innovia Foundation, which has a 52-year history of grantmaking across Eastern Washington and North Idaho, distributed its latest round of Community Grants Program funding to 125 organizations in the region. The program draws from charitable donor funds and targets projects that strengthen local communities across a variety of sectors.
Shoshone County fared well in the latest cycle, landing six of the 125 awards. Innovia CEO Shelly O’Quinn described the foundation’s philosophy in a public statement, noting that “healthy communities begin where basic needs are met and connection among neighbors is possible.” The pickleball project fits squarely within that framework — a publicly accessible recreational facility attached to a school campus, designed to serve residents across age groups.
The Silver Valley’s recreation economy has long been a pillar of the local community, from skiing at Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain to trail use along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes corridor. Accessible public recreation facilities like pickleball courts complement that broader identity, offering low-barrier activities for year-round residents who may not always participate in the more gear-intensive mountain sports the region is known for.
What Comes Next
With approximately $5,000 still needed to reach full funding, project organizers will continue outreach to potential donors and grant sources. The Innovia award demonstrates that outside funders see value in the project, which could strengthen future funding appeals. The school district and Silver Mountain partnership that has anchored the effort for three years provides an institutional foundation that lends credibility to the initiative.
Once fully funded, the timeline calls for construction to proceed in time for courts to open during spring or summer — giving Kellogg residents a refurbished, publicly accessible facility on the doorstep of one of the Silver Valley’s signature recreation destinations.
North Idaho continues to attract attention for its outdoor recreation assets. For broader context on public lands and recreation access across the region, readers can follow coverage at KootenaiCountyNews.com and statewide recreation news at IdahoNews.co.
Anyone interested in contributing to the remaining funding gap for the Kellogg pickleball court project can reach out to Kellogg Project Uplift directly for details on how to support the effort.