August 9, 2024 |
Photo – Playing pickleball – Courtesy US Sports Camps website
In Saratoga, the local pickleball league is requesting that the town donate land from a park to build an indoor sports facility.
Invented in 1965, pickleball is similar to badminton, where players use small rackets to hit an object over a net. Unlike badminton, pickleball uses a whiffle ball instead of a shuttlecock. For the past three years, pickleball has been recognized as the fastest growing sport in America.
During the August 6th Saratoga town council meeting, Good Times Pickleball Association members Cindy Loose and Cindy Carnes addressed the governing body. Loose explained the organization’s plan to build a 12,000 square foot indoor pickleball facility in Saratoga.
The Good Times Pickleball Association is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The members asked the council to donate town-owned land for the construction of new indoor pickleball courts. Loose explained how investing in the sports facility will benefit the physical and mental health of residents.
Loose said pickleball fosters a sense of community by bringing people together to play the game. A pickleball facility will also enhance the feeling of belongingness among residents, said Loose.
Having a professional pickleball facility will also financially benefit Saratoga. Loose said out-of-town players will spend their money locally.
Because pickleball courts are smaller than traditional tennis courts, Loose said they are easier and cheaper to build. She said the Good Times Pickleball Association will seek grants and other funding opportunities to pay for the construction of the proposed pickleball facility.
Mayor Chuck Davis asked how much the building is expected to cost. Carnes said she was quoted $527,707 for an enclosed building capable of housing six to eight pickleball courts.
The price does not include the cost of installing electrical, HVAC, lighting, or the courts themselves.
Councilwoman Kathy Beck asked if the Carbon County Visitor’s Council will financially contribute toward the project. Loose said the Good Times Pickleball Association is focusing on obtaining sponsorships from local businesses and residents.
Loose said the facility will attract players from Encampment, Rawlins, Sinclair, Casper, and Laramie to Saratoga for games and tournaments.
Councilman Bub Barkhurst asked about the cost to maintain and run the pickleball facility. Loose said she used artificial intelligence to generate potential operational costs.
Mayor Davis asked what exactly the Good Times Pickleball Association members want from the town. Loose said they would like the council to donate land for the pickleball courts. On top of that, Loose asked that the town help maintain and staff the facility.
Councilwoman Beck expressed her approval of the project, saying that pickleball is a popular sport. However, the councilwoman said the Good Times Pickleball Association should present a plan of how they intend to pay for the construction and maintenance of the facility before the town makes a decision.
Mayor Davis instructed the Good Times Pickleball Association members to work on their business plan. In the meantime, the mayor said he will investigate the legality of donating land from Kathy Glode Park toward the project.
