Pickleball players ask Oak Harbor to expand and resurface Sumner Park courts as Fort Nugent timeline remains uncertain

Darren Cook, president of the newly formed Whidbey Pickleball Association, told the Oak Harbor Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on Aug. 11 that his group — now about 132 members — lacks dedicated public courts and would support converting or expanding existing city assets to meet demand.

Cook said the association can accommodate eight pickleball courts if Sumner Park’s eastern edge is extended by about 10 feet and the surface is resurfaced. “We can get 8 courts out of there if we expand the eastern edge by 10 feet,” he said.

The request came as staff and commissioners cautioned that the city’s planned Fort Nugent courts are not yet ready for play. Parks staff said the Fort Nugent design is nearly complete but that grant funding was not awarded this round and construction remains contingent on future grants and permitting. “We have plans in hand. We’re shovel-ready, which makes us competitive for the next round of RCO grants,” the Parks and Recreation Director said.

Why it matters: pickleball has grown rapidly in Oak Harbor and elsewhere, and players said lack of courts is limiting local opportunities. Commissioners noted competing uses at existing tennis courts, equity for historical tennis users, and maintenance and funding implications for resurfacing city courts.

Commission discussion focused on both short-term, low-cost fixes and longer-term capital work. Several commissioners and members suggested temporary options such as adding pickleball striping and portable nets at Windjammer Park and Sumner Park while the city pursues grant funding for a permanent project. One commissioner suggested scheduled court reservations to reduce conflicts between tennis and pickleball users.

Staff provided cost context during the meeting: resurfacing bids discussed for similar court projects ranged from roughly $35,000 for a partial resurfacing to higher turnkey estimates around $40,000–$42,000 for more durable work; staff noted these figures are estimates and that full implementation costs would be refined if the commission or council prioritizes a project. The transcript records citizens and commissioners describing prior contractor pricing and volunteer fundraising commitments; one citizen said the pickeball group plans to raise local match funds.

Tennis players’ concerns that conversion could reduce their only non‑school public courts were raised repeatedly. Commissioners emphasized trying to find compromise solutions that allow shared or scheduled use, add temporary courts, and pursue grant matches rather than redirecting funds from other projects.

Next steps: commissioners asked the facilities subcommittee to develop concrete options and cost estimates for the commission’s September meeting, including temporary netting and striping, potential resurfacing and extension of Sumner Park courts, and how West Whidbey developments (including pending Fort Nugent work) factor into timing. Staff said a public open house on the Fort Nugent/pickleball design will be scheduled later in the fall once final permitting details are available.

Community context: the discussion also referenced use at Rotary Park and the high school and noted that some nonresident visitors choose Oak Harbor for recreational stays because of local pickleball opportunities.