The contractor building the new public pickleball courts just south of Yamaguchi Park, near Pagosa Springs High School, has informed the Pagosa Springs Recreation Department know that their work on the new courts will be completed late Wednesday.
The Recreation Department is organizing a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for 8:30am Thursday morning, July 20, and the courts will be open for play immediately following the ceremony.
The new courts were funded in part by the Pagosa Pickleball Club, with public funding donated by the Pagosa Springs Tourism Board, the Town of Pagosa Springs, and Archuleta County.
Pickleball has grown in popularity here in Pagosa, over the past decade, with players making use of indoor courts at the Ross Aragon Community Center and outdoor courts at South Pagosa Park. The new courts will be the first public courts in the community built specifically for pickleball.
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America, appealing to those just wanting to enjoy a fun, healthy social interaction, as well as those looking for a fast-paced competitive challenge. Simple, straightforward rules, similar to ping pong and tennis, make the game attractive and approachable. It’s especially popular among older adults, which fits with the generally older demographic in Pagosa Springs.
From the Pagosa Pickleball Club website:
Visitors have told us we have the worst courts they’ve played on, but great people. We’re excited to say our [new] courts will soon be as nice as our people.
Over the last 5 years, the club has worked to raise $100,000 to go toward the construction of dedicated, permanent outdoor courts. With our contribution and matching funds from the Town of Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County and the Pagosa Springs Tourism Board, construction on eight permanent courts is scheduled to be completed in July of 2023.
This new facility will include individually fenced courts, bleachers and shade structures. It will be a premier facility for the enjoyment of the local community and pickleball enthusiasts from the Southwest Colorado region and visitors from all over the country.
From an email sent out to club members on Monday:
It would be a great demonstration to the community and to the entities who have contributed to the development of the new courts, of the demand for and appreciation of quality pickleball facilities, to see a large turnout of pickleball players at the [Thursday] ceremony ready to play on the new courts, so grab your paddle and come on down!
Registration for the club’s Fall Grand Opening tournament is well underway. In conjunction with the tournament, they are introducing a Sponsorship program to help maximize the fundraising potential of our event.
You can learn more about local pickleball activities at the Pagosa Pickleball Club website.
Bill Hudson began sharing his opinions in the Pagosa Daily Post in 2004 and can’t seem to break the habit. He claims that, in Pagosa Springs, opinions are like pickup trucks: everybody has one.