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Council gets $7.4M Uptown Pickleball Complex update; four under‑bridge courts dropped for now
Summary
City staff and the Uptown Pickleball Association updated council on a planned Uptown Pickleball Complex: design advanced to 21 courts with 16 covered courts and a championship court; budget ~ $7.4 million funded with city reserves, TAD funding and association funds; four courts under the Second Avenue Bridge ($600,000 estimate) were removed from current scope due to budget constraints.
City staff briefed the Columbus City Council on June 16 about progress on the Uptown Pickleball Complex at 1641 Third Avenue. The project team and the Pickleball Association advanced the design from an initial, tightly packed 24-court concept to a more amenitized layout that preserves play space and social areas.
Director Ryan Puit said the current plan calls for 21 courts on the main parcel: 16 covered courts, four outdoor courts and one championship court; the pro shop, restrooms and concession areas are included in the layout. The city has authorized approximately $7.4 million in funding for the project, comprised of roughly $4.0 million from general-fund reserves, $2.6 million in TAD funding, and approximately $382,000 remaining from the Pickleball Association’s fundraising and prior property acquisition.
Brassfield and Gory (design-build) moved forward with final design and budget pricing in April; based on that pricing, the four courts proposed under the Second Avenue Bridge (an initial selling point for shade and unique access) were estimated to cost about $600,000 and were removed from the current scope because the budget was fully committed to the main site work. Councilors urged staff and the association to pursue alternative funding sources—TAD advisory committee recommendations, discretionary funds, or a renewed capital campaign—to fund the under-bridge courts rather than add later costlier change orders.
Puit said designs will be completed in July, permitting will follow, and construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in August 2026 with completion targeted for next summer. Council will need to accept a property donation between the city and the association as the next formal step.
Next steps: finalize design, confirm funding sources for possible under-bridge courts (TAD, OSP/OTS infrastructure funds or fundraising), return property-donation documents for council consideration, and begin permitting and construction in August.
