Residents press city to expand pickleball courts; council directs committee talks, grant pursuit

Residents and frequent players urged the Jacksonville City Council at a workshop session to prioritize more public pickleball courts to meet growing local demand. Jack Handy, a Springfield resident who helped start organized pickleball locally, and Kathy Murray, a Jacksonville resident, described rapid growth in players, tournament activity and economic benefit and pushed city officials to act.

The issue matters because players said limited court availability is constraining use and local tournaments can generate measurable economic activity. Handy said Springfield’s tournament produced a $340,000 positive economic impact and described statewide growth in courts and players. “This year, there are almost 20,000,000” pickleball players nationwide, Handy said, adding that courts installed with a $1,300,000 state grant created 16 new outdoor courts in Springfield.

The council’s discussion focused on cost, site selection and funding. Mayor Ezzard said the council hears the demand and that staff and elected officials will pursue options, including grants. “We are going to be aggressive on grant,” Ezzard said, and asked Parks leadership and residents to identify priorities and a community spokesperson. Alderman Lori (chair, Parks and Lakes Committee) asked residents to share a contact person and recommended involving Superintendent of Parks Adam Fletcher in early conversations; she noted restroom, parking and site amenities will affect total costs.

Speakers offered several implementation notes and cost context. Handy said converting existing tennis courts or resurfacing can lower costs compared with building new courts, and he gave an illustrative grant example used in Springfield: a $1,300,000 state grant to add 16 courts, which he divided to roughly $81,000 per court as a notional figure when starting from scratch. He also described changing demographics — a local club average age dropping from about 63 to 51 — and social benefits, saying pickleball drew families and younger players.

Council members and staff identified specific next steps rather than making an immediate funding commitment. Alderman Lori said Veterans Park court refurbishment was included in a prior capital improvement list (a 2023 estimate of $340,000 was mentioned), but other projects had higher priority that year; she asked the group to nominate priority locations for this council’s budgeting cycle and to coordinate with parks staff. Mayor Ezzard suggested the city could reallocate capital improvement funds if necessary but emphasized competing needs such as tornado recovery.

Funding sources discussed included the city’s Capital Improvement Fund and state OSLAD (Open Space Land Acquisition and Development) grants; staff noted OSLAD is a matching program and that application deadlines and eligibility must be checked. Handy also recommended local private sponsorships and club fundraising as complements to grants.

The council did not adopt a specific ordinance or budget allocation at the workshop. Instead, members directed Parks and Lakes Committee members and staff to open talks with residents, involve Superintendent Adam Fletcher, identify priority sites, and explore grant timelines and costs so the project can be considered in an upcoming funding cycle.