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Boulder advances Tom Watson Park court refresh with pickleball courts, phased funding
Summary
Parks staff presented concept designs and a phased construction schedule for Tom Watson Park improvements, including new pickleball courts, improved circulation, lighting and a planned restroom; staff expect phase one construction to start this year and phase two to be funded later.
City parks staff presented the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board with a concept and schedule for improvements at Tom Watson Park that will add multiple pickleball courts, refresh hard surfaces and improve circulation, lighting and plantings.
Matt Pilger, a member of the plan design team, described the concept layout and said the project would replace failing surfaces and reconfigure courts to support multiple uses, including pickleball, basketball and tennis. He noted the team’s goal to reuse salvageable existing materials where possible. Staff showed a two-phase plan:
- Phase 1 (advance in 2025): new court surfacing and access improvements, pedestrian lighting, replacement of failing play surface and improved plantings. Staff said the construction contract is moving forward with a source-park contractor and that, if schedules hold, construction should complete by late fall (staff mentioned an anticipated November completion and punch-list work afterward). - Phase 2 (2026, partially unfunded): restroom replacement and additional site furnishings, site systems, and further court and landscape enhancements. Staff estimated phase-two unfunded needs “somewhere” in the $500,000–$600,000 range.
Project manager Mark Wolf described benefits for off-peak use and potential revenue from lit evening play. He said staff are coordinating with neighborhood access and plans to review bicycle access improvements that could tie the park to existing bike paths. “We have access to Strava heat maps that show this is a heavily used biking area,” Mark said, and staff said bicyclist and pedestrian connections will be part of the phase-two analysis.
Why it matters: the Tom Watson effort is designed to bring worn facilities up to current standards and create programming and revenue opportunities while making the park more attractive to a broader range of users.
Board feedback: members asked about phasing, whether lighting and wayfinding could be prioritized in a single year, and whether any additional roadway or pond work would be required. Staff said phasing is flexible and that many decisions will depend on funding and contractor schedules.
Next steps: staff will advance construction drawings and negotiate contract terms for phase 1, report back on any grant or fundraising opportunities for phase 2 and include bicycle- and pedestrian-access refinements in the next update.
