Council approves pickleball courts

During its May 15 meeting, Waxahachie City Council unanimously authorized $64,633 from the park dedication fee fund to be used to fund a pickleball court conversion project.

The project will take the unused tennis courts at the Salvation Army, located at 620 Farley St., and convert them into three regulation pickleball courts, according to a post on the city’s official Facebook page.

According to USAPickleball.org, pickleball is a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, and is played with a paddle and a plastic ball. It can be played by all ages and was named America’s fastest growing sport in 2023, increasing from 4.8 million players to 8.9 million players in the U.S., according to Sports & Fitness Industry Association Topline Participation Report.

Council also approved contracts for the project with CourTex Construction Inc. ($48,500) and Bob Owens Electric Co. ($10,258). CourTex will oversee the court resurfacing and installation of three nets, six pole lights, 6-foot-tall windscreens surrounding the courts and two additional gates. Bob Owens Electric Co. will oversee all necessary electrical work. The total project cost includes a 10% contingency, according to city staff.

“This conversion will optimize existing infrastructure and provide a new recreational opportunity for the community,” Kyle Cooper, senior director of Parks and Recreation, said.

“The first figure you came up with was astronomical, and … I think what you came up with was a great alternative at the least expense that we possibly could, just to see how that picks up and how well it does,” council member Chris Wright said. “I’ve got a feeling we’ll end up building more pickleball courts in one of the new parks once we get going.”

During a work session Jan. 25, Cooper shared with the council multiple options for pickleball courts in Waxahachie. To build a new court from the ground up, it was estimated to cost $630,000 to $658,000.

Originally published May 19, 2023 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/news/local/council-approves-pickleball-courts/article_86ce734a-f67a-11ed-a912-031aeb32bb1e.html