Broussard council approves $8.95 million recreation capital allocation for park complex, including 24-court pickleball center and veterans memorial

The City of Broussard on Aug. 12 approved a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2025–26 budget, allocating $8,950,000 to recreation capital outlay to advance construction of a new recreation complex that includes a 24-court pickleball facility, a Veterans Memorial and associated parking and stormwater improvements.

The measure — Resolution 848-25 — was presented to the council with design and engineering details from the project team. Daniel Hutchinson, a presenter, said the project will create a 3.8-acre retention pond and produce “right at about 50,000 yards of dirt,” which the city plans to reuse on-site to build the pads for the pickleball facility and a roughly 1.87-acre parking area. Hutchinson said the pickleball facility footprint is “close to about 3 acres.”

The project design includes 24 total pickleball courts, 16 of which will be covered, Russell Tronholm, architect with Tronholm Architecture, told the council. “About 16 courts are gonna be covered,” Tronholm said, and the facility will include a two‑story pro shop with an observation deck, concessions, storage and restrooms sized to serve the new complex and the adjacent park.

Brian Boudreaux, the architect in charge of the Veterans Memorial design, described the memorial as sitting on a landscape berm that “roughly climbs up about 6 feet to its apex,” overlooking the new pond, with a small lawn area intended for gatherings and engraved tiles to be sold as a fundraising element.

City staff told the council the project funding draws on a previously awarded $8 million bond and additional recreation fund reserves. Kristen, a staff member, said the city received the $8,000,000 bond and has about $3,000,000 in the bank in the recreation fund, for roughly $11,000,000 total cash on hand; she also said the recreation fund balance rose by about $1,900,000 over the last two years and is projecting an unaudited $680,000 increase this year. The resolution on the council agenda seeks $8,950,000 for recreation capital outlay to move the project into bidding and construction.

Design details presented to the council include reusing on-site material where feasible because importing fill is expensive and the top two feet of soil in some areas were unsuitable. The presentation showed the new parking area will add roughly 190 spaces; council members and staff estimated the overall park parking supply would reach roughly 1,200–1,300 spaces after the new lot and other work are completed.

Presenters said the facility was designed with spacing between courts to meet standards for higher‑level events and to attract regional tournaments. Jamie, a staff member, cited a parishwide study recommending a centralized pickleball arena; the council was told the chosen 24‑court size was intended to balance the costs of construction with the ability to host regional and some national events.

Council members voted to approve the budget amendment. There was no public comment recorded on the item.

The resolution authorizes staff to proceed with steps needed to bid and build the complex; presenters said final procurement, site grading and the public bid process will follow the council’s approval. Project features such as the number of covered courts, observation deck and concessions were shown in design plans presented at the meeting; staff offered to make full plans available for council review after the meeting.

The council’s approval moves the project to the public‑bid and construction phase; staff noted some on-site earthwork will require heavy equipment crossing park roads and that the city plans to maintain park access during grading operations.

Speakers: Walter Como, civil engineer; Daniel Hutchinson, presenter; Russell Tronholm, architect, Tronholm Architecture; Brian Boudreaux, architect (Veterans Memorial); Kristen, staff member; Jamie, staff member; Kelly, city clerk.

Why it matters: The allocation will fund construction of a major recreational facility and Veterans Memorial that city staff say is intended for both regular resident use and for hosting regional events that could bring visitors to Broussard.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with bid documents and public procurement; presenters and staff said they will be available to review detailed plans with council members following the meeting.