WYNNE — The St. Francis Area Developmental Center made a $10,000 donation Thursday to the city of Wynne for the pickleball court project in downtown Wynne.
Joey Astin, director of the St. Francis Area Developmental Center, which oversees the Cross County Special Workshop, said the donation was a way to say thank you for all of the support from the city and the community over the years.
“The city of Wynne has embraced the workshop since the ’70s and in its darkest hour eight years ago. The people of this town kept the workshop open,” Astin said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to be here since 2018 and with the addition of the pickleball courts, we felt like it was time for the workshop to be able to give something back to the town.”
The courts are located directly across Commercial Avenue from the workshop. Astin said that pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports for Special Olympics Arkansas.
Wynne Mayor Jennifer Hobbs said she is proud of the working relationship between the city and the Cross County Special Workshop.
“We have been supportive for many years. That was one of the things when I took office we contracted with them and helped support them financially. The community in general has just been a great supporter of the workshop,” Hobbs said. “We’re just super proud and excited that they’re giving back to this project. I think they will utilize the pickleball court part quite a bit and it will be good for their participants.”
The pickleball courts are expected to be completed in November.
The courts are located between First Financial Bank and the Cross County Library. The bank donated the property to the city for the project.
