Pickleballers patiently awaiting new court
“I know everyone’s really looking forward to our new pickleball courts,” Town Parks and Recreation director Ron Oestreich said. “It’s a really great project that will be well-used once it opens.
However, “We’re a little bit behind on the construction because of some delays in earthwork, curbing and fence and light bases, but I think it will be worth the wait,” he said, adding the Town expects to have the courts open by the end of the year.
Last February, when the design plan was approved, the completion date was projected as the fall.
Daniel Benner, project manager with Baseline Sports Construction, said his crew currently is working on concrete of the curbs and fixings.
“We will start on the drains and face stone for the asphalt,” he added. “All that will be started in the next few weeks.”
So will the sidewalks, according to Ben White, senior engineering technician.
“It’s going,” he added. “It’s always a slow process, and it looks worse before it gets better.
But, “We are about to be out of the ground,” White said. “It’s just that there are a lot of components … it’s not just about putting down asphalt.
“The hard part is making the cake; putting on the icing is the easy part,” he added.
While they are looking at mid-November to finish much of the work, Town staff said “There will still need to be logistical processes put in place.”
Last February, Farragut Municipal Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the site plans for the pickleball courts.
“It’s a win-win for a lot of people,” Planning Commissioner Ron Pinchok said after the vote.
The approved plan calls for a nine-court complex
with lights, between-court fencing, external fencing, a shade structure outside the complex and two Americans with Disabilities Act parking spots, totaling .98 acres of disturbed land,” according to Oestreich.
“The Harrison Road side parking lot at Mayor Bob Leonard Park is less than 100 yards from the new pickleball complex and has plenty of parking to accommodate all of the activity for the park, including pickleball,” he added at the Feb. 20 meeting.
“The specific location for the complex is where the current grass rectangular field is along Harrison Road,” Oestreich said. “We’ll be moving that rectangular field to the open space behind the sand volleyball courts.
“The front walk will have gates and a French drain between the sidewalk and the external fence. Again, those will all tie to our pathways,” he added.
The plans to build the pickleball courts at Mayor Bob
Leonard Park were decided as a solution to complaints about the McFee Park tennis/pickleball complex by nearby residents.
“For the past several years, Farragut Parks and Recreation has received multiple noise complaints from the Brass Lantern residents bordering the McFee Park tennis/pickleball complex,” Oestreich said at the Feb. 20 FMPC meeting. “Members of the Brass Lantern (Homeowners Association) have attended both Parks and Athletics Council meetings
and Board of Mayor and Aldermen meetings, requesting the Town stop pickleball at McFee Park.”
At the same time, he said, “pickleball players attended meetings, pleading their need for a place to play pickleball.
“Staff worked with residents and players to implement a reservation only system of play for both pickleball and tennis,” Oestreich said.
