Newport Unveils Vibrant Pickleball Courts: A vibrant ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening of the new pickleball courts at Frank V. Wade Memorial Park in Newport on Thursday, Sept. 26. Under sunny skies, city officials and members of the Newport Pickleball Club gathered to celebrate this long-awaited addition to the community.
Community Leaders Celebrate Together
Mayor Jan Kaplan and City Councilor Cynthia Jacobi took part in the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, symbolizing the partnership between the city and local pickleball enthusiasts. Newport’s new city manager, Nina Vetter, expressed gratitude for the collaboration that made the project possible. “With local government, we can’t accomplish things alone, even things like building a pickleball court, so we’re really thankful for the partnership that we have with you all to make things happen and to make our community an even better place to live — and to play pickleball, most importantly,” Vetter said.
A Long-Awaited Transformation
The courts at this site have served the community for over 45 years, but their age was evident. Mike Cavanaugh, director of Newport Parks and Recreation, noted the challenges of funding such projects. “This is one of those projects we had identified, but we didn’t have funding,” he told the Lincoln County Leader after the ceremony.
Members of the Newport Pickleball Club played a pivotal role in bringing the project to fruition, even launching a GoFundMe account to gather financial support. Cavanaugh highlighted the urgency of the renovations: “After a discussion with the city manager, we then brought it before the city council to ask for funding to do a resurfacing because it was getting to the point where this was a safety hazard with the cracks.” The revamped facility now dedicates one side of the former tennis court for pickleball, while the other remains for tennis, with flexibility to adjust for additional pickleball courts as demand grows. The total project cost was approximately $70,000.
A Surge in Popularity
The Newport community has embraced pickleball, especially since the pandemic prompted an increase in outdoor activities. “People have been playing pickleball on this court system for probably the last seven years,” Cavanaugh shared. “Outside play grew during COVID and it hasn’t calmed down. The level of play before COVID was not very high, then after COVID, that’s all they do during the summertime is come here and play.”
Peggy O’Callaghan, president of the Newport Pickleball Club, was enthusiastic about the new courts, stating, “These courts are phenomenal. I think it’s really going to boost our club membership as well. We have 50 to 60 club members.” For those interested in joining, more information can be found on Facebook by searching for the Newport Pickleball Club.
Addressing Neighborhood Concerns
However, the popularity of pickleball hasn’t come without challenges. Cavanaugh acknowledged that the sport’s inherent noise has led to complaints from nearby residents. “We have had complaints about noise and players playing too early in the morning,” he explained. To address these concerns, the city is working on signage to establish hours of use, currently set at 8 AM. Additionally, plans for a potential sound barrier between the courts and neighboring homes are being considered.
News in Brief : Newport Unveils Vibrant Pickleball Courts
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 26 celebrated the opening of new pickleball courts at Frank V. Wade Memorial Park in Newport. Mayor Jan Kaplan and City Councilor Cynthia Jacobi officiated the event alongside local pickleball enthusiasts.
Newport’s city manager, Nina Vetter, emphasized the importance of community partnerships in making the project a reality. The $70,000 renovation addresses safety issues with the aging tennis courts, transforming one side for pickleball use. Despite its rising popularity, the sport has generated noise complaints from neighbors, prompting the city to consider sound barriers and signage for court usage hours.
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