Big goals can be accomplished when people join together.

That's one of the messages taken away by the Williston Tennis Association after it received the Organization Citation from the North Dakota Recreation & Park Association for constructing the new Tom and Shirley Davidson Tennis Complex.

"I think it is a good example of how we worked together. We had city, school board, park district and a group of citizens who helped to coordinate things," said association member Deb Kemp. "I think it just shows that when you get a group like that together, you can get a big project done in a timely fashion."

The project involved taking the existing courts at Davidson Park and converting them into three regulation-sized courts. Three new regulation-sized courts were then added to the renovated courts.

Fencing was installed around the added courts and fencing was installed between all of the courts to provide some separation. Association member Del Easton said the recognition is a reflection of what can be accomplished when people set their minds to something.

"That is what we did. We went out and planned and worked and we got a big project done that has never been accomplished before," Easton said.

Association member Frank Keogh pointed to the relationship between the tennis group and the Williston Parks and Recreation Department as an important factor.

"The cooperation that developed between our Williston Tennis Association and the Williston Parks and Rec was key to our success," Keogh said. "We built a very important relationship going in. Both parties recognized the importance of this project and we worked together with great enthusiasm."

All three association members appreciated the fact that Parks and Rec director Darin Krueger nominated the group for the state honor.

"We formed this group in late 2008. Nine months later, we got tennis courts," Krueger said. "To me, that is phenomenal that a group can put their heads together and accomplish that task. They were definitely deserving (of the honor)."

Krueger thought it was appropriate the tennis group be recognized for a great project when cities like Bismarck and Fargo see groups nominated all of the time.

"They were committed to the project. They went after it and got it done," Krueger said. "Now the future of tennis in Williston is great."

Easton is a former Williston High School principal who is very direct in saying his involvement was specifically to benefit the high school students.

He wanted to produce good facilities for the high school tennis teams to use for practice and in competition against other schools.

"Of course, I'm pleased and honored and humbled," Easton said of the state honor. "It wasn't something we were looking for when we did the project."

He said an important aspect behind the success of the project involved fundraising of about $225,000.

"Those of us who have raised funds before know it is really important to get a large gift at the beginning," he said. "That is what American State Bank and the Davidson Cattle Company did, is they came forward right away with a $50,000 gift. That was the springboard for us to go out and raise the money."

"When you have essentially a fourth of your money raised before you start looking for others, it was pretty helpful," said Keogh, who is president and CEO of American State. "I think we had some key donors come along; that really helped us. Half of our donations were reached by the first of the year."

The early success with the fundraising allowed Parks and Rec to start its bidding process for the project, Keogh added.

"I appreciated the Williston Parks and Rec actually pursuing that recognition and sharing it with us," he said of the state award. "Congratulations to them as well for that award. We were pleased to be part of that project. We had a great outcome."

The tennis group said the project couldn't have been successful without the help of Park and Rec, specifically staff members Jessica Hanson and Jeremy Ludlum, Krueger said.

"From our point of view, the Park and Rec was very, very good to work with," said Kemp. "The city supported us, the school district supported us. We had some very large donations from people in the community, businesses in the community."

Kemp said the tennis group had the idea and kept it going, "but we couldn't have done it without the support."

The completed courts also are creating a big impact on the Park and Rec tennis program.

"Our program has just exploded. Our numbers have doubled," Krueger said. "Part of that is this group has gone forward and everyone knew they were going to have these tennis courts."

Easton said the final outcome of the project is amazing.

"All we can do is to improve that site now with some shrubbery and some trees and that sort of thing," he said. "It is going to be a really nice tennis complex in honor of two wonderful people."