The City of Evansville Department of Parks and Recreation is seeking approval to develop designs for a new Pickleball Facility at Wesselman Park. The Board of Parks Commissioners will consider an agreement for the plans at their Wednesday, June 1 meeting at noon in the Civic Center Complex, Rm. 301.
For the past several months, Deputy Mayor / Interim Park Director Steve Schaefer and the Evansville Pickleball Outdoor Courts (EPOC) committee have been meeting to ensure a future for pickleball in the Evansville community.
“Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S.,” said Deputy Mayor Steve Schaefer. “After listening to EPOC and other community stakeholders, we asked Hafer Associates to develop an outdoor 24-court concept. Now we’re ready to develop more detailed drawings to be used for bidding and construction of the facility.”
The estimated budget for the first phase of the project is $1.5 million, which will be funded through a public-private partnership. Additional phases would create:
- A new entryway and exit for the tennis and pickleball court area, reducing traffic flow inside Wesselman Park; and
- Designs for center tennis court area with bleachers and an open-air covering for four additional pickleball courts.
“Pickleball is a sport for all ages and skill levels,” said EPOC Chairman Michael Watkins. “It combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. We appreciate the Parks Department’s interest and commitment to our local pickleball community.”
In addition to the pickleball facility plans, Parks Board members will also consider:
- A design service agreement for a new gateway entrance at Roberts Park; and
- An updated agreement for the Roberts Park Master Plan.
Yes to Pickle ball – NO to the tennis stadium! This was proposed and denied some years back. Bogus to say it reduces traffic. The current tennis players do not have to drive through he park. This proposal only cuts down tree’s ( Deer habitat). Look closely
Also lets not forget the Wesselmans par 3 golf course is also unused and barren land. There is dozens of aces on the old Roberts Stadium site, yet they want to cut down hundreds of tree’s. Why chop down tree’s, never to be replaced? The above states there will be a “new” entrance” to the tennis area. Looks to me like and “additional” entrance.
How about replacing our basketball court & the Little Otters Playground at Garvins Park that were taken out for the Pool !
Us poor folks in the hood would appreciate it.
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