Avondale unveils plan for new and upgraded parks across city, including Civic Center Park and eight new pickleball courts

City leaders and staff on April 21 outlined a multi-site parks plan that adds new amenities and upgrades existing facilities across Avondale.

The presentation from Corey Loeba, director of Parks, Recreation and Libraries, described six priority projects under design or construction and several other capital improvements planned over the next 18 months. Loeba said Civic Center Park — a 4.9-acre site adjacent to the library — is under construction and will include a shaded playground, picnic ramada, open turf, continuous sidewalks, a reading grove, a food-truck alley for events and space reserved for public art.

The update emphasized user-focused details and constraints. “You will see that area under construction,” Loeba said of Civic Center Park, and noted the project does not include a perimeter fence around the playground in the current design but that one is being considered post-construction. The presentation included renderings showing seat walls meant to resemble book spines as a design nod to the adjacent library.

Why it matters: the projects aim to expand recreation access citywide while reusing underused turf and responding to public demand for courts and inclusive play. Staff said the changes will spread amenities through north and south Avondale, add evening-use lighting and create educational landscape demonstrations.

Key projects and details presented

- Civic Center Park (4.9 acres): shaded…