Donated tree honors former pickleball player

Maple will offer some shade to players on township courts.

A donated maple tree was planted on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, near the pickleball courts at Laketown Township Hall, 4338 Beeline Road. From left are Laketown Township Manager Stephanie Fox, Skip Williams, Brad Adamson, Tim Williams, Tim Bennett, Sam Ferlito and Jeff Partyka, facilities operations of Laketown Township.

The morning sun was intense as the pickleball players arrived at Laketown Township Hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

The perfect reason for a new tree that was planted Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, by local pickleball players.

The maple tree is in honor of long-time pickleball player Scott Williams who passed away March 11 of this year.

“He and I started playing pickleball back in 2015,” said Sam Ferlito who helped organize the memorial tree. “Scott would always say, ‘We need some shade.’ To honor Scott, we planted this tree.”

Check out a video of the tree work here.

Donations from the pickleball group paid for the tree from West Olive Nursery. Heavener Property Services of Saugatuck donated the labor and equipment to plant the tree. There was no cost to the township.

The Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission approved the planting and tree variety. Township staff member Jeff Partyka worked with the pickleball group on the location of the tree.

The pickleball players plan to add a plaque honoring Williams later this fall.

A crew from Heavener Property Services of Saugatuck finish planting a maple tree at the pickleball courts at Laketown Township Hall, 4338 Beeline Road, on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. At left, township Manager Stephanie Fox talks with Sam Ferlito who helped organize the tree planting.