CPRD to expand pickleball courts in summer 2025
Plans include new pickleball courts and resurfaced tennis courts
CPRD is planning to expand pickleball courts at Jaquith Park in summer 2025. At its August meeting, the Board of Directors approved hiring NV5 for the project design, topographical survey, and construction permitting and bidding processes, for a total cost of $77,867.
Six new pickleball courts will be built on the grass lawn, just east of the tennis courts and south of the basketball courts. The horseshoe pits will remain. The existing tennis courts will also be resurfaced as part of the project.
In total, Jaquith Park will have two tennis courts, six pickleball courts, and two dual-purpose courts striped for a combination of two tennis courts and six pickleball courts. This will provide flexibility for up to four tennis courts and six pickleball courts, or two tennis courts and 12 pickleball courts at any given time.
The project is pending City of Newberg land-use permitting and coincides with CPRD's plan to add two pickleball courts to Renne Field/Park next summer as well.
The recommendation for additional pickleball courts came from the CPRD Newberg Pickleball Citizens' Advisory Committee. As the volunteer committee members three-year-terms expire, the committee is beginning to see the fruits of its labors. Spokesman Nick Konen expressed the committee's excitement about the project.
"From the beginning, our goal and hope were for covered, well-lit, dedicated pickleball courts, and it is awesome that it sounds like they will be breaking ground on that in spring 2025," he said. "We formed the committee in October 2021, but really shifted our focus and energy to pushing for any amount of covered, lit courts in late 2022 and early 2023. Once the dedicated courts are complete with a cover and lighting, we hope to improve the areas around the courts by providing seating and comfortable waiting areas."
The full vision for the project includes two phases, and community volunteers are already considering fundraising efforts to keep it going.
"Once Phase Two is completed, which is set to include the cover, I feel our recommendations will be fulfilled. Our goal was to recommend a project that will ultimately allow pickleball to be played year-round," said Konen.
CPRD Board of Directors President Matt Smith said, "As an avid tennis player and user of Jaquith Park, I am happy we were able to work with both the pickleball and tennis communities to find a solution that allows both user groups to be served. Our plan is to have lighted and covered pickleball courts and likely lighted tennis courts (Phase 2), which will be the only such public courts in our area. We will be able to host leagues and tournaments for pickleball right here in Newberg! We will also build new tennis courts which will allow us once again to host tournaments and competitive tennis at a public venue in our community.”
Committee president Mike Kringlen underscored the need for additional courts locally.
"Pickleball continues to gain momentum throughout the world for players of all skill levels," said Kringlen. "Many people like myself plan our vacations to destinations with indoor and outdoor pickleball facilities."
Konen said that while the committee appreciates the commitment to building additional outdoor courts, the local popularity for the sport is such that there is a strong need for facilities that are not dependent on fair weather. Pickleball does takes place in CPRD's Chehalem Aquatic and Fitness Center gymnasium and some other facilities outside of CPRD, but the committee says that more are needed.
"In Spring 2024, during events hosted or sponsored by the Newberg Pickleball Club at Jaquith Park, we saw over 480 participants of all ages and skill levels come out to attend. Through the Summer every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and most Saturdays, we saw between 20 and 40 people come out for scheduled play, and on any given weeknight, you could see the majority of the courts full of families, friends, and pickleball enthusiasts alike enjoying the sport. Once complete, this project will provide people with a place to get outside and stay active through pickleball year-round, not just when the weather cooperates," said Konen.
"The Pickleball Advisory Committee strongly believes in the benefits of pickleball in a community and values the recreational opportunities it provides for all. We are very thankful to CPRD for moving forward with this plan to eventually allow for pickleball participation year-round," said Konen.
NV5 recently completed the masterplan process for Bob and Crystal Rilee Park, which the Board also approved at its August meeting.
