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Board approves application to seek 50/50 state grant for outdoor pickleball courts at Cascade Park
Summary
The board approved applying for a 50/50 matching Parks and Recreation Fund grant from the State of Tennessee to design and construct outdoor pickleball courts and related park improvements at Cascade Park; staff said the site would require removal of about 20 trees, is in a flood zone, and would increase parking and pedestrian safety.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to approve applying for a 50/50 matching Parks and Recreation Fund grant to design and build outdoor pickleball courts and related park improvements at Cascade Park, across from D.W. Wilson.
Lau Russell, community engagement officer speaking for the Parks and Recreation director, told the board the grant application would fund site preparation and construction if awarded and that the application itself does not obligate the city to provide local funding. "This is just for approval to apply for the grant. This is no guarantee that we will get it or that, we will have to provide any funding for it," Russell said.
Russell said pickleball play has grown locally and the city currently relies on three indoor multiuse courts and two outdoor courts at the high school, which carry restrictions when school is in session. He said new outdoor courts would reduce scheduling conflicts between basketball and pickleball users and could serve as a quality-of-life amenity for families and retirees.
Board members asked about site constraints. Russell said the parcel behind the Cascade ball fields is in a flood zone but that the proposed location near the road would not generally be underwater in typical high-water events. He estimated the project would require removal of about 20 trees and would change the parking configuration to add a few spaces; the plan would also create a pedestrian walkway to improve safety across Collins Street. Russell said the amount before the board, if fully funded, would cover site prep and construction, and that the grant would cover those costs.
Outcome: The board approved the request to apply for the grant; the transcript records the motion as passing "by clear majority." No dollar total for the project or final match commitment was recorded in the meeting transcript.
Why it matters: The project would create dedicated outdoor courts to reduce conflicts at indoor gym space, add a pedestrian improvement across a busy corridor near school fields and modify parking; it would also require tree removal and routine park maintenance.
Next steps: If awarded, staff would return with design details, specific budget figures and implementation timelines for board approval.
