Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion: A Winter Haven for Players in the Pacific Northwest

Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion, pickleball players often hibernate or migrate to warmer areas. In Washington, indoor pickleball facilities are scarce. However, players from Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seattle travel up to 100 miles to play year-round at Mount Vernon’s Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion.

Community Spirit at Cornwall Park

Claude Blackburn, the pavilion’s donor, envisioned a space similar to Cornwall Park.

“My vision was to always have the feeling of Cornwall Park. The feeling of Cornwall is one big family with 60 to 70 people showing up and playing pickleball. I wanted a lot of courts because it would draw a lot more people.” – (Claude Blackburn)

He aimed for many courts to draw larger crowds. Cornwall Park has six outdoor pickleball courts near softball fields and disc golf courses, plus two tennis courts that can be converted into four makeshift pickleball courts.

A New Era with Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion

The Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion, located on the Skagit Valley College campus, features 10 indoor courts. Since its opening in June 2022, the Skagit Valley Pickleball Club’s membership has risen from about 250 to nearly 1,000 players.

“I’m seeing a massive age shift and a lot of 16- to 21-year-old players out here. It is super convenient since it is minutes from I-5 and on campus.” – (Skagit Valley Pickleball Club President Chris Kinsland)

Claude Blackburn, a 73-year-old businessman, founded Dri-Eaz Products, the largest manufacturer of water-damage equipment in North America. He sold the company in 2006. Since then, he has focused on giving back to the community through donations, particularly for pickleball.

“I give a lot of my income away, especially in pickleball since it is the most fun. It’s hard not to enjoy the recognition and it’s a joy to have my name on the building. Most of the money I give away, I usually send the checks and don’t see the results.” – (Blackburn)

Vision Turns into Reality

Blackburn’s dream of a 12-court pavilion began six years ago.

“I thought people would want my money so I created a three-part vision.” – (Blackburn)

He planned to cover the full cost of the pavilion, estimated at $1.5 million, but the final cost was $1.7 million. His vision also included funding 50% of converting tennis courts to pickleball courts and new court constructions.

“I would cover 100 percent of the pickleball pavilion, which I thought would be $1.5 million but it wasn’t. The pavilion cost me $1.7 million.” – (Blackburn)

Blackburn approached the Bellingham Parks Department, but interest was low. Former Skagit Valley Pickleball Club President Dan Budzynski then suggested a pavilion at Hillcrest Park, which was not chosen due to plans for soccer fields. Budzynski met Tom Keegan, the former president of Skagit Valley College, while playing pickleball.

“I made a pitch to the Bellingham Parks Department and nobody lined up. Dan Budzynski wanted something to do at Hillcrest Park and I was going to give 50 percent of it.” – (Blackburn)

“When I first moved here, I was playing indoors and met Tom. Before any discussions with Claude, I had discussions with Tom and he wanted to locate it at the college. It went through a couple years of design work and six months or so of construction.” – (Budzynski)

After years of design and six months of construction, the pavilion became a reality.

Access and Growth for All Players

The pavilion offers preferred hours for the Skagit Valley Pickleball Club from 8–11 a.m. and 4–8 p.m. on seven out of the 10 courts. The building is open to the public, providing easy access for players.

Joining the club costs $40 a year, a bargain compared to many other facilities. The college also runs pickleball classes for students. The pavilion hosts the Tulip Tussle tournament in April, attracting over 800 players.

“This has been an incredible relationship. Mitch Freeman, SVC athletic director, provides players from their men’s and women’s basketball, softball and baseball players to help ensure the event runs smoothly. We split the revenue which helps fund their athletics department.” – (Kinsland)

Mitch Freeman, the SVC athletic director, provides support with student athletes helping at events. Revenue from these events helps fund the athletics department.

Continued Improvements for the Facility

As pickleball’s popularity grows, the club and college have added benches, glare screens, and gates to improve the playing experience. Blackburn hopes to construct another facility in Whatcom County, further expanding the pickleball community in the region.

News in Brief: Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion