Advisory board hears plans for pickleball courts at Buncombe County Sports Park; phase‑3 funding eyed for 2027
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Board members discussed potential expansion of pickleball facilities. Staff said phase‑3 of the Buncombe County Sports Park could include 16 covered tournament‑standard pickleball courts, with funding sought in 2027 from TDA and other sources; phase‑2 turf and ADA upgrades are scheduled for Oct. 2026.
Christina Dipesh, a board member and president of the Asheville Pickleball Association, told the advisory board on Nov. 12 that the pickleball community is ready to support county plans and seek locations for courts. Dipesh said community interest and investor proposals exist outside city limits and requested guidance on county contacts.
Joseph Guzman, Buncombe County project manager for Parks and Recreation, described the multi‑phase plan at Charles D. Owen Park/Buncombe County Sports Park: phase 1 completed turf fields and a bathroom upgrade; phase 2 includes turfing additional fields, renovating playgrounds for ADA accessibility and renovating restroom and concession facilities (planned in Oct. 2026); phase 3 — targeted for funding requests in 2027 — would extend parking and construct covered courts including a configuration that currently outlines 16 covered, tournament‑standard pickleball courts and a pair of covered basketball courts. “The Buncombe County Sports Park currently outlines, 16 pickleball courts that are covered and our tournament standard,” Guzman said.
Guzman said staff intend to seek TDA (Tourism Development Authority) funds and other grants to reduce county tax‑dollar needs; he pointed to recent regional sporting events (citing the PGA tournament at the Biltmore) as evidence of potential tourism draws.
What this means: If funded, the planned courts could support tournaments and regional visitation; the timeline depends on design, contracting and securing external funding. Board members suggested early outreach to pickleball groups and community meetings as part of design and site selection.
Next steps: Staff will undertake community outreach as part of the Charles D. Owen Park redesign and will present funding requests (including TDA) in future CIP cycles.