New Pickleball Courts Finally Break Ground
But for some reason the Mayor won’t share the contract specs with the pickleball community or even the Council Trustees.
Update: Construction began October 3, 2023. The efforts by the Reader and pickleball players to get the plans from the Village have been unsuccessful to date, despite repeated efforts. For some reason the Mayor has yet to share the information even with the Council Trustees.
You’ve probably noticed all the folks playing Pickleball at Zenith Park. On any given Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday morning, you may see three dozen players on four courts batting yellow balls back and forth.
They are a friendly, fun mix of men and women, young and old, enjoying a game that anyone can play competitively. Anyone is welcome to join in. Games are fast-paced and teams change every game.
CNBC reports Pickleball now boasts the support of more than 36 million other Americans and calls the rapidly growing sport easy to learn and inexpensive.
CNN says it is America’s fastest-growing sport. It is a perfect sport for Cloudcroft and could prove to be a natural draw for visitors looking to play in the summer — a healthy tourism draw for everyone.
So why has Cloudcroft lagged behind?
For several months, the tennis court severely damaged in a windstorm has been waiting to be remade into 6 pickleball courts. Insurance monies have been allocated to this project. But updates on the project design and contractor have been hard to get.
Kevin Tharp, the leader of the self-described PAC (Pickleball Addicts of Cloudcroft), has offered his expertise in pickleball court design and addressed the Village Council on multiple occasions. But still, we don’t know who has the contract to do the work, what the design looks like, and when it will start.
It’s time to pay attention. If this project is not done right and in a timely fashion, it will be a huge missed opportunity for Cloudcroft. The pickleball courts could be a jewel in Zenith Park, full of active players enjoying the natural beauty of our community. Some day, we should host a Cloudcroft Pickleball Open Tournament that would be a tremendous draw in the summer.
At last night’s Village Council meeting, Kevin got 2 minutes to ask a few questions about the current status. Answers weren’t forthcoming.
The village staff doesn’t have to do this alone. They can — and should — tap the talent and experience of Cloudcroft’s active pickleball for help. Why haven’t they?
If you would like to see the construction of the new pickleball courts get the attention they deserve, comment below.
We have a cabin in Cloudcroft and visit often including renting places for friends and family. All our family and friends play pickleball a lot! Please make the courts here a priority.