In response to an uptick in local interest in the sport, the city of Cortez is planning in 2016 to transform the two tennis courts at Centennial Park into pickleball courts as part of a $325,000 renovation project.
City Manager Shane Hale said that the Parks and Recreation department has observed a sharp uptick in the number of pickleball players signing up for matches at the Cortez Rec Center. The Parks Department estimates that nearly 60 users are involved in Rec Center-sponsored matches alone.
During peak usage times, pickleball and tennis players often compete for court space, as the matches are typically held on the tennis courts east of the Rec Center.
Since the tennis courts at Centennial Park need to be refurbished, the department has proposed dedicating them specifically to the burgeoning sport.
The pickleball conversion would still leave the six courts on the east side of the Rec Center dedicated specifically for tennis.
Aside from the six new pickleball courts, part of the Centennial Park renovation project, includes plans to demolish the 30-year-old, stick-built, seasonal restroom facility at the park, and build a larger facility to better accommodate users.
The state of the Centennial Park restrooms is a frequent complaint among citizens who visit the park, Hale said.
The city is applying for roughly $175,000 in funding for the overhaul from Great Outdoors Colorado, which requires $150,000 in match funds from the city.
Hale noted that even if the grant is not approved, about $175,000 has already been set aside to rehab the Centennial Park restrooms.