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Parks commission backs MOU allowing Inland Northwest Pickleball Club to keep annual Cherry Hill tournament
Summary
The Coeur d'Alene Parks and Recreation Commission on Jan. 27 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve a memorandum of understanding allowing the Inland Northwest Pickleball Club to hold its annual tournament at Cherry Hill Park.
The Coeur d'Alene Parks and Recreation Commission on Jan. 27 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve a memorandum of understanding with the Inland Northwest Pickleball Club to continue holding its annual tournament at Cherry Hill Park.
The agreement would allow the club to use Cherry Hill Courts for the tournament, requires the club to “pay all applicable fees for the tournament,” and leaves the city the option to accept in‑kind services—such as pressure washing or minor court improvements—to offset costs, staff said. The MOU would carry no direct cost to the city, according to staff.
Why it matters: Pickleball has grown rapidly in the area and the club’s membership increased from about 350 to more than 500 in the last year. The club’s tournament draws players nationally and from Canada, city staff said, and a formal MOU would preserve continuity for the event going forward.
In staff remarks, Recreation staff said the city has a longstanding partnership with the club that includes court improvements and recreation lessons. “Rather than having any set fees in there, there's language in there that they'll pay all applicable fees for the tournament, and then we reserve the right to accept services or in‑kind donations…to offset the cost of their tournament,” Recreation staff said during the meeting.
Commissioners asked about parking; staff said the city owns adjacent property north of the fire station sometimes used for overflow parking and that past tournaments have used it with only a few dozen cars at most. Commissioners also asked whether the city planned to build additional pickleball courts; staff said there are designs for potential courts on existing raw parkland but emphasized maintenance, operations and staffing must be resolved before any expansion.
Motion and vote: Commissioner Lean moved that the commission recommend council approval of the MOU; Commissioner Bakes seconded. The commission voted in favor with no recorded opposition.
What’s next: Staff said the recommendation will be routed to City Council; staff may try to place it on the next council agenda without sending it to subcommittee if timing allows.
