Council approves pickleball courts at Water Tower Park, adds $5,000 for amenities

The City of South Padre Island on Tuesday approved construction of pickleball courts at Water Tower Park and authorized a budget amendment to reserve up to $76,009.50 for construction and modest site amenities.

Assistant Public Works Director John Wilson presented two layout options for the 60-by-120-foot parcel the city acquired adjacent to the park. Council discussion focused on court orientation (north-south is recommended for playability), the number of courts, and parking. Staff recommended a three-court layout; several council members and staff asked that the design include six pull-in parking spaces rather than two parallel spaces to avoid spillover into neighborhood streets.

Councilmember Alex (surname not provided in the transcript) made a motion to approve design Option 1 with six additional parking spaces and to add $5,000 for shade, benches or other complementary amenities to be coordinated with the Parks Committee, bringing the authorized total to $76,009.50. The motion passed.

Clarifying details: council and staff noted an existing utility pole and an eight-foot easement on the site that constrained some layout options. Staff said the project would be an in-house public-works construction with some subcontracted concrete work, and that the presence of restrooms at the existing park reduced additional infrastructure needs.

Why it matters: Pickleball courts respond to growing local demand for courts and reuse a small city-owned parcel. The council prioritized parking and modest amenity funding to minimize impact on neighboring streets and enhance user comfort.

What’s next: Public Works will finalize plans, coordinate with the Parks Committee on amenities, and schedule construction. Council expressed a desire to advance the project quickly.