Hammond converts Gene Shepherd Center into busy pickleball hub; city promotes public hours and events

Mayor and city parks officials described a deliberate conversion of the Gene Shepherd Center into a pickleball facility that city leaders say has dramatically increased use of the building. Jim Talon, Hammond parks department, described regular weekday and evening schedules and said the facility attracts players from across the region.

"It's night and day. This place is slammed," the mayor said, describing the difference in how the building is used since staff reconfigured courts for pickleball. Jim Talon, the parks department manager, outlined weekday programming: "During the weekdays from 9 to 12, there will be pickleball leagues...then from 12 to 5, it's open to the public...and then from 5 to 9, the pickleball group comes back in with their evening groups." Talon said the facility has 12 courts and that weekend attendance can reach about 150 people on Saturdays and Sundays.

Talon said staff are available to teach new players and that the center can be rented for private events. Building manager Chrissy Nelson was named as the point of contact for booking. Officials also said the venue has hosted other events — such as mixed martial arts, model airplane demonstrations and corporate parties — and is open to a broad range of community uses.

City officials declined to present any new contract or formal policy change during the meeting; the discussion described the operational decision and promoted the current schedule and booking option. Department staff said they will continue to run leagues, public hours and special events at the Gene Shepherd Center.

The mayor and parks staff asked residents to use the written-question process for follow-ups and provided on-site information about 219 Pickleball and building staff for bookings.