Pickleball Courts in Pogadl Park: The Town of Sylvan Lake will move ahead with Phase 4 of Pogadl Park’s development, which includes a synthetic turf field, a new parking lot, four pickleball courts, and an operations yard without a building. The estimated cost for the phase is $7.4 million, with design planned in 2025 and construction in 2026.
The updated plan, approved by council at its June 10 meeting, also includes two grass soccer fields, though their construction depends on grant funding. The fields are expected to cost about $918,000.
Project Background and Options Considered
On May 7, Sylvan Lake’s administration shared several options with the Committee of the Whole. Each option offered different combinations of facilities with varied price tags.
Option 1 cost $8.62 million and included a turf field, two parking lots, and two grass fields. Option 2 cost $6.374 million and had a turf field and one parking lot. Option 3 cost $5.2 million and included two parking lots, two grass fields, and four pickleball courts.
Option 4, recommended by the administration, was priced at $4.977 million. It included Parking Lot 3, two grass fields, four pickleball courts, an outdoor hockey rink, and an operations yard without a building. This option did not include a turf field.
Council’s Final Decision
During the June 10 meeting, Sylvan Lake council members voiced concern over leaving out the synthetic turf field.
Councillor Jas Payne said,
“The turf field is what’s going to set Pogadl apart. Right now, it’s what draws people to Lacombe, it’s what draws people to Great Chief Park. I feel like we’re missing out on a revenue opportunity and we’re kicking a can down the road even further. I do think being fiscally responsible is important, but when I look at this, once again I see an outdoor rink, uniformly we didn’t want an ODR when we talked about this in Committee of the Whole.”-(Jas Payne)
Councillor Jas Payne also added,
“I do think the turf field is going to do something different for the community. I do think, to me, it’s a priority.”-(Jas Payne)
Council voted unanimously to adjust Option 4 by removing the outdoor rink and adding the synthetic turf field. This brought the total cost of Phase 4 to $7.4 million.
Details of Phase 4 Construction
Parking Lot 3, a key feature in the approved plan, will be built on the north side of Gulls Stadium. It will have 432 parking spots and a connecting road. The cost of the lot is estimated at $2.6 million. The town hopes to pave the lot in the future.
The operations yard will be built without a structure for now. Construction is expected to start in 2026, after the design phase is completed in 2025.
Looking Ahead
Pogadl Park’s full construction began in 2021 and is scheduled to be completed by 2028. Phase 4 will add important recreational features that aim to attract more visitors and support local sports.
The council hopes that adding a synthetic turf field and other amenities will make Pogadl Park a major destination for sports and events in the region.
News in Brief: Pickleball Courts in Pogadl Park
Sylvan Lake has approved a $7.4 million plan for Phase 4 of Pogadl Park. The plan includes a turf field, pickleball courts, a parking lot, and soccer fields. The outdoor rink was removed from the original plan. Design begins in 2025, with construction planned for 2026.
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