Alexandria’s Park and Recreation Commission is deciding whether to add pickleball courts to more local tennis courts and is looking for public input on the decision.
At a virtual public hearing on Thursday, Feb. 17, the Commission hosting a public hearing to get public feedback on the proposal. The Commission is looking at where to put the new courts, as the funding has already been allocated for the needed infrastructure and court markings.
“The Park & Recreation Commission will provide a recommendation to staff regarding locations to expand pickleball court installations in the City,” the city said in a press release. “The Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) requested additional funding in FY2022 to provide infrastructure and court markings to provide more pickleball courts and improve the level of play for pickleball users. In response to the Department’s request, RPCA received $20,000 to expand pickleball facilities in FY2022.”
The project is budgeted for $20,000 with each location costing $4,000 to renovate.
A city report said that the city is already in the process of converting single-use ball courts into multi-use courts, with Lee Center Courts and Mount Vernon Court already having pickleball facilities added to the existing tennis courts.
“Pickleball has increased in popularity in the last several years,” the report said. “RPCA requested additional funding in FY2022 to provide infrastructure and court markings to provide more pickleball courts and improve the level of play for pickleball users.
The conversion would involve adding movable nets with new lines demarcating pickleball courts on each side of the tennis court.
The report said the following courts could get renovated for pickleball use:
- Armistead L Boothe Park (four pickleball courts)
- Chambliss Park (four pickleball courts)
- Chinquapin Park (five pickleball courts)
- Eugene Simpson Stadium Park (four pickleball courts)
- Lee Center (four pickleball courts)
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be attended via link on the city website.
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