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County approves plan development for covered pickleball courts at Millennium Park
Summary
County magistrates voted to develop plans to site new, county-backed pickleball courts at Millennium Park after a joint parks presentation outlined four siting options and funding assumptions; county had already budgeted court construction funds.
County officials and parks staff voted to move forward with design and planning for a county-backed pickleball facility at Millennium Park, approving a motion to develop plans during a joint presentation on parks capital projects.
The motion, described in the meeting transcript as put forward by Magistrate Gay and seconded by Magistrate Ellis, was approved by voice vote after county representatives said funds had been set aside and an architect was present to begin design work. "The county has set aside the money for the pickleball courts, and as soon as we get the word, we are ready to break ground," a county official said during the meeting.
Why it matters: parks staff framed the pickleball project as the earliest-moving element of a broader capital program that also includes an indoor recreation and aquatics component, a mountain-bike park and a skate-park renovation. Staff and elected officials said pickleball demand is strong and that the county’s funding commitment makes immediate design work feasible.
What was decided: the body approved a motion "to move forward with developing the plans for the pickleball courts to be located in Millennium Park." County budget detail discussed at the meeting indicated $551,650 was budgeted specifically for the courts (court construction only); speakers cautioned that that sum does not cover fabric covers, lighting, or additional amenities unless supplementary funds are identified. The motion’s formal mover and seconder were recorded verbally in the meeting: Magistrate Gay (mover) and Magistrate Ellis (second).
Funding and next steps: presenters urged that architects finalize an estimate for covered, lighted courts and that city and county staff coordinate site layout and any needed relocation of existing courts and amenities. One official advised working with the county’s architect to refine costs for the cover and lighting and to "fine tune this layout at the same time." Officials also noted broader property and ownership questions (see related article) that could affect project scope.
What remains open: several speakers asked the county attorney to check deed or grant restrictions — including land-and-water funding restrictions — before moving forward with ownership transfers or changes to permitted uses. The motion initiated planning but did not bind the governing bodies to construction expenditures beyond the funds already budgeted for courts.
The meeting also included a broader presentation of siting options and cost estimates for a larger indoor recreation and aquatics facility; those discussions will inform future funding and partnership decisions.
