The Bastrop Area Pickleball Association will replace outdated lighting at its courts with energy-efficient LED lighting with the help of a grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The $9,730 Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $4,300 in matching funds from the association, will be used to replace 30-year-old lighting that limits visibility and sometimes makes it difficult for players to see activity on the court. The improved lighting has become increasingly needed as more people play later in the day after school or work, said Gary Moss, president of the Bastrop Area Pickleball Association.

The facility has 10 courts and is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Pickleball, which combines elements of tennis, badminton and Ping-Pong, is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country and is popular with players of all ages. The game has a smaller court and doesn’t require quite as much running as tennis.

“We had a game recently that was a 70-year-old grandfather, a 40-year-old dad, a 38-year-old mom, and a 9-year-old son,” Moss said. “And they were really playing – not playing around, really competing.”

Moss said competition isn’t the only reason the facility has become so popular. He said pickleball also is a great way for visitors to socialize, chatting and getting to know one another as they wait for their next match. In just over a year, membership in the Bastrop Area Pickleball Association has grown from only a few members to more than 300.

With the new lighting, the group sees an opportunity to host large weekend tournaments, drawing in visitors from around the region and providing economic benefits for the community.

Moss said he and other volunteers, with the help of sponsors, have helped transform older seldom-used tennis courts into the popular pickleball facility by removing weeds, replacing cracked concrete, and working on new fences.

“We have a lot of great people who work hard and play hard,” Moss said. “We’ve really turned this into a spectacular thing.”

The group offers a $200 annual membership for unlimited play, and offers no-cost memberships to those aged 18 and under and low-income families.

The community grant is one of six grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.

A $25,000 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority will help Bastrop County Emergency Services District #2 purchase two new mechanical CPR devices.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $14,142 in matching funds from the department, will pay for devices that will perform chest compressions, allowing first responders to focus on other aspects of emergency care. The devices also will help reduce fatigue in first responders who are called upon to perform CPR for extended periods.

“As someone who does CPR, I know how exhausting and taxing it is,” said Fire Chief Josh Gill. “These mechanical CPR devices provide high-quality compressions the entire time and remove the human element of fatigue when administering CPR.”

Bastrop County ESD #2, which has both paid and volunteer firefighters, responds to about two dozen cardiac calls a year. The department is often the first on the scene, and its first responders perform hands-on CPR for an average of 40 minutes for unresponsive patients, Gill said.

The two new mechanical CPR devices will be the first for the department and will be placed on each of the department’s primary response trucks.

“These devices give the highest level of CPR possible,” Gill said. “It gives the community peace of mind knowing we can provide high-quality care in emergencies.”

Bastrop County ESD #2 primarily serves 200 square miles of unincorporated areas of Bastrop County, including Paige, Camp Swift, Bastrop State Park, Lake Bastrop Acres, Circle-D/KC Estates and Tahitian Village/Pine Forest. It offers mutual aid to all of Bastrop County, as well as McDade and Elgin.

“There may be situations where we need to respond to multiple emergencies at one time,” Gill said. “With the mechanical CPR devices, we can have more first responders available to aid in other emergencies, which is critical in our rapidly growing community.”

The community grant is one of six grants being awarded by Bluebonnet and LCRA through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp. 

A $4,463 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority will help the Maxwell Social Club purchase new energy-efficient windows and solar screens.
 
The Community Development Partnership Program grant will allow the club to replace seven metal single-pane windows with double-pane windows and solar screens, enhancing the comfort and appearance of the facility and making it more attractive as a meeting location.
 
“The Maxwell Social Club serves as a meeting place for the community of Maxwell,” said Ronda Reagan, club vice president. “It is the only regional event center around and is the center of events and gatherings for the community.”
 
Reagan said some Maxwell residents rent out-of-town facilities because the windows at the Maxwell Social Club contribute to uncomfortable temperatures inside the building during the summer and winter months. She said the 1985-era windows have turned colors and are not easy to see through.
 
New windows and solar screens will provide a more comfortable facility for the community, lower utility bills for the club and a more pleasing appearance.
 
“The windows will make the building more beautiful and energy efficient for all of our renters,” Reagan said.
 
The building is more than 6,000 square feet and sits on two acres of land. It is available for rent for reunions, weddings, graduation parties and other events. Reagan hopes the new windows draw even more visitors.
 
“The Maxwell Social Club represents a key part of Maxwell’s past and future,” she said. “We are excited for the community to see the updated windows and enjoy the space with their friends and family.”

The community grant is one of four grants being awarded by Bluebonnet and the LCRA through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available here