In a move to accommodate one of the fastest-growing recreational activities in the region, Lake Havasu City is planning to expand its pickleball court facilities at a local park.
The city dedicated four new pickleball courts at the Dick Samp Memorial Park, located at 1628 Avalon Avenue, in the spring of 2017.
But even at the time of that dedication, city officials acknowledged the probable need for more courts in the near future.
Now the City of Havasu City has issued a Request for Proposals calling for the construction of an additional eight new pickleball courts.
The project for the park, which also features two baseball fields and a playground, is being done in accordance with a field assessment report and park master plan prepared by the engineering firm of Shephard Wesnitzer and the Norris Design landscape architectural firm.
According to the RFP, the project will also include the construction of player seating and shade structures, as well as irrigation and landscape work.
As planned, the new pickleball courts will be comprised of two post-tension slabs.
The RFP has a submission deadline of August 12.
Pickleball as a recreation has seen a 650 percent increase in player participation in recent years, according to the USA Pickleball Association. The sport has proved particularly popular in Arizona for reasons of climate, with courts now open in some two dozen cities.
By Garry Boulard
