Beatrice planning to add more Pickleball courts

BEATRICE – The growing popularity of a sport played by all ages is prompting the City of Beatrice to add facilities.

The city has learned it will receive grant support through a Nebraska Game and Parks Land and Water Conservation fund, to add more Pickleball Courts at Chautauqua Park.

Monday night, the city hired the Southeast Nebraska Development District to administer the grant, at a cost of $10,000.

"We ran out of room. So, there are six outdoor courts, there. The association has north of 120 members. We have probably another 20 or 30 members that come and play regularly that are not members of the association....so you're somewhere between 120 and 150 people that play regularly."

City Councilman Ted Fairbanks is a member of the local Pickleball Association and says during warmer weather, the six courts at the city park are used practically from sunup to late night.

"We made application for this grant, to build, basically, an exact replica of what we have...and it's a 50-50 matching grant. We're going to get the remainder of the dollars from tourism...out of the budget."

A concrete seating area at the six courts was added this past year….and a shade structure for that will be funded by the local association. A rocked parking area has been added just to the west of the courts.

Fairbanks said the location of the added courts is yet to be finalized.

"We have a site A and a site B and neither one of those has been decided yet...because we're not going to decide until we get the money in hand. But, it's a good organization, it's a good sport. If you're interested in it, there's a website...you can look at it....a Facebook page.....everyone's welcome to join."

The association operates several leagues for various ages.