Buffalo County Rejects Bids for Ravenna Lake Pickleball Courts

Commissioners will seek to reduce costs by having county staff handle some project work.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:35pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeated pattern of a bright yellow pickleball paddle against a vibrant pink and blue background, conceptually representing the county's efforts to provide new sports amenities in a cost-effective manner.The Buffalo County Commissioners' rejection of bids for new pickleball courts at Ravenna Lake highlights the challenge of balancing recreational investments with fiscal responsibility.Kearney Today

The Buffalo County Commissioners voted to reject three bids for the construction of two new pickleball courts at the Buffalo County Recreation Area-Ravenna Lake. The bids, ranging from $201,490 to $230,525, were over the engineer's estimate of $141,020. The commissioners asked the county facilities director to look for ways to reduce costs, such as having county staff handle some of the work, and return with a modified bid request at the next meeting.

Why it matters

The proposed pickleball courts are part of the county's efforts to add more amenities to the popular Ravenna Lake recreation area, which has seen a growing number of campers in recent years. The commissioners are looking to balance providing new recreational opportunities with staying within their budget.

The details

The commissioners had approved architecture and design services for the pickleball court project in August 2025 and recently sought bids. Three bids were received, but all came in significantly over the engineer's estimate. The county facilities director recommended rejecting the bids so they can explore ways to reduce the project's costs, such as having county staff handle some of the work like tree removal.

  • The commissioners approved architectural and design services for the project in August 2025.
  • Bids for the project were opened during the commissioners' meeting on April 14, 2026.

The players

Buffalo County Commissioners

The governing body of Buffalo County, Nebraska that oversees county projects and expenditures.

Steve Gaasch

The Facilities Director for Buffalo County who recommended rejecting the bids and exploring ways to reduce the project's costs.

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What they’re saying

“After their review, he said they were reasonable but over budget, he asked the commissioners to reject all three bids.”

— Steve Gaasch, Facilities Director, Buffalo County

What’s next

Gaasch said that his team will look at county staff handling some of the items including in the bid, such as tree removal, to help cut down on the cost. He said they would return to the next commissioner's meeting with a modified bid request.

The takeaway

The Buffalo County Commissioners are taking a fiscally responsible approach by rejecting bids that exceeded their budget for the Ravenna Lake pickleball court project. By exploring ways to reduce costs, they aim to provide new recreational amenities while staying within their means and serving the best interests of county taxpayers.