New Pickleball Courts at Sky River Park: MONROE — Last week, Monroe celebrated the grand opening of two new pickleball courts at Sky River Park, marking a significant upgrade for local pickleball enthusiasts. The freshly laid concrete courts, shaded by nearby trees, are already attracting players eager to hit the courts.
Carrie Horner’s family, equipped with pickleball paddles, is enthusiastic about the new addition. “I believe my family will be playing here a lot,” said Horner. “We live downtown and love that we can ride our bikes to these new courts.”
Natalya Datskiv, a Monroe resident, brought her grandsons, William and Joseph, aged 6 and 8, to enjoy the new facilities. “They go to this park almost every day,” Datskiv shared.
Expanding Pickleball Facilities
Sky River Park now hosts Monroe’s first true outdoor pickleball courts featuring regulation-height nets. Previously, Monroe had two pickleball courts marked on tennis courts at Lake Tye Park. The city plans to convert a tennis court at Lake Tye Park into four additional pickleball courts next month, bringing the total to seven, according to city parks director Mike Farrell.
“It’s great,” said city park board member Ron Petrick, a pickleball player. “Pickleball is a lifelong sport, much like golf.” Player Jack Freelander, who lives just a five-minute drive from the park, appreciates the sport’s approachability. “The small court size makes it much more approachable than tennis,” Freelander noted. He likened the rules of pickleball to “ping-pong, except you’re standing on the table.”
Mike Ellinger, another Monroe resident, mentioned the lack of a local pickleball league but noted a group that plays indoor pickleball at the Monroe Y. “Outdoor pickleball uses different-sized whiffle balls and has variables like wind,” Ellinger explained. Typical games are won by reaching 11 points first, provided the lead is by at least two points, and scoring occurs only on serves.
Community and Future Prospects
Larry Imbeau, a player for five or six years, had advocated for more courts in Monroe. “It’s a growing sport,” Farrell said. Imbeau envisions the possibility of hosting tournaments now that Monroe will have seven courts.
Freelander appreciates the shade provided by the park’s trees. “Not a lot of courts have shady areas,” he said. Reflecting on his pickleball journey, Freelander recalled having to travel to Kirkland to play before Monroe’s recent additions and Snohomish’s four striped courts at Pilchuck Park.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony last Tuesday featured Mayor Geoffrey Thomas, City Council members, and parks board members. The city funded the new courts through real estate excise tax funds collected from property sales, with additional support from the county.
Councilwoman Heather Fulcher, who tried the game for the first time in sandals, found it enjoyable. “The game is fun,” Fulcher said.
News in Brief: New Pickleball Courts at Sky River Park
Last week, Monroe opened two new pickleball courts at Sky River Park, enhancing local recreational options. These new pickleball courts in Monroe, shaded by trees and built with fresh concrete, are already drawing players. Carrie Horner and her family, as well as Natalya Datskiv with her grandsons, are among the first to enjoy the new facilities. Monroe will soon have seven courts, with additional conversions planned at Lake Tye Park. The city’s park board, funded by real estate excise tax and county support, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Mayor Geoffrey Thomas and Councilwoman Heather Fulcher, who enjoyed trying the game.
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