Southlake to spend more than $3 million to build ‘destination’ pickleball complex
Southlake is building a $3.4 million pickleball that it hopes draws more visitors city with its hotels and bustling town square.
During its June 21 meeting, , council members voted unanimously to approve the site plan for the complex in Bicentennial Park. It will include eight courts, a championship court with bleachers, shade structures, lighting and fencing. The complex will also include a small building for offices, storage and restrooms.
Before the vote, Mayor John Huffman said, “We’re calling this the Taj Mahal of pickleball.”
He said the city is seeing lots of demand for a place to play the popular game.
“It’s amazing. We’ve got a ton of demand for pickleball services in this area. I’m shocked at how fast this sport is growing,” he said.
The city is banking on tournaments and other events to draw visitors to the complex.
Bicentennial Park, north of Southlake Boulevard has other amenities for sports enthusiasts, including the Southlake Tennis Center, baseball fields, batting cages, a playground and basketball courts.
Other council members shared the mayor’s enthusiasm.
Pickleball’s popularity is surging in the United States, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, and cities are building pickleball courts to cash in on the popularity of the sport.
Pickleball combines the elements of tennis, table tennis and badminton, and it appeals to young and old alike.
The balls are plastic and have holes in them, and the paddles, about the size of those used for table tennis, are rectangular in shape.
The sport has gained popularity since 2014, but took off during the pandemic.
The sport was reportedly invented in 1965 by two families from Washington state, and it was named after a family dog, Pickles.
The council also decided to hold off on a proposal to build a “sanctuary” at Bob Jones Nature Center that can also hold events, such as weddings.
Council members were concerned about the rising construction costs as Southlake has other projects in the works and pointed out that the area already has many wedding venues.
This story was originally published June 28, 2022 at 11:27 AM.