Players urge 8 dedicated pickleball courts at Friendship Park; council hears calls for permanent facility

Several Grand Prairie residents urged the council to change plans for Friendship Park and build eight permanent pickleball courts rather than the proposed four permanent pickleball courts combined with one tennis court.

Samuel Vongor, speaking during citizen comments, described explosive growth in evening and nighttime play since LED lights were installed at Friendship Park and said the park is frequently at capacity, with as many as 300 players a day. Vongor said the current plan — painting lines on a rarely used tennis court and relying on removable nets — is inefficient and costly, noting removable nets cost “upwards of $2,000 each” and that the community already supplies temporary nets.

A second speaker, Shane Mattson, said a mixed layout invites friction between tennis and pickleball users and would likely require later reconfiguration at added expense. Mattson compared nearby tennis facilities and argued that dedicating the park to pickleball would avoid conflicts, expand access for beginners and seniors, and allow programming such as leagues and clinics.

Why it matters: speakers said Friendship Park has become an informal regional draw for pickleball players and that a permanent, larger facility would better serve residents, foster public safety through active use, and attract local spending. No council action was taken at the meeting; these remarks were made during the citizen-comments portion.

What commenters asked: build eight dedicated, permanent pickleball courts at Friendship Park; avoid a mixed tennis/pickleball layout; and invest in a facility that can host open play, lessons and local tournaments.