An outdoor pickleball complex could be coming to a Fort Collins community park near you
Fort Collins pickleball players, this should get you pumped.
The city's Parks, Planning and Development department is starting a feasibility assessment and community outreach process looking at adding a 12-court outdoor pickleball complex at one of its community parks.
A recent donation of an undisclosed amount from the Fort Collins Pickleball Club group through the city's City Give program prompted the city to look at the addition of a pickleball complex.
"Pickleball has been on the city’s radar for many years as an up-and-coming sport that is of high interest to the community," Jill Wuertz, senior manager of Parks, Planning and Development division, said in a news release.
Pickleball continues to be one of the fastest growing sports in America. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association said pickleball participation has increased 223% nationally over the past three years.
Data collected during the city's ReCreate: Parks and Recreation Master Plan public engagement process in 2020 indicated Fort Collins should plan to install an additional 13 outdoor pickleball courts by the year 2040.
The first phase in the city's feasibility assessment of an outdoor pickleball complex included assessing community park spaces for compatibility based on a number of criteria. It also will include talking to community members, including those who do and do not play pickleball, to gauge interest in the project.
The city's preliminary research identified two potential locations suitable for a 12-court outdoor pickleball complex that stood out from among its seven community parks: Fossil Creek Community Park and Spring Canyon Community Park.
Fossil Creek, located in the southeast part of the city, scored a 16 on a weighted scale based on criteria such as adequate space, neighborhood compatibility, and existing parking and restrooms.
Spring Canyon, located in the southwest part of the city, scored a 13.
Edora scored an 8, City Park a 7, Rolland Moore a 5, and Lee Martinez and Twin Silo both scored 4.
The city's current parks system pickleball courts include:
8 dedicated outdoor pickleball courts.
44 outdoor multiuse courts striped for pickleball, including 25 on tennis courts.
Up to 12 indoor pickleball courts.
For more information and to submit questions about the pickleball complex feasibility assessment, visit https://ourcity.fcgov.com/pickleball.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins eyes outdoor pickleball complex. Here's where it could be