Bellingham Pickleball Club and Whatcom Community College (WCC) are teaming up to build 12 new covered pickleball courts on the college campus. This partnership aims to provide indoor playing options for pickleball enthusiasts in Whatcom County.
Expanding Indoor Options for Players
WCC has been interested in supporting pickleball for some time.
“The community college has always been involved and interested in pickleball,”. “It was a matter of the college going through criteria because of it being an educational facility.”(Cathie Badalamenti)
Currently, WCC has seven outdoor pickleball courts available to the public year-round. However, indoor options are limited in the area. Players can use facilities at Armory Pickleball, Cordata Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School, or Bellingham Fitness during winter. Those willing to travel can play at Skagit Valley College’s Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion in Mount Vernon.
“The idea is that it would be very similar to the one in Skagit,”. “The design would be relatively similar because that design has been successful.”(Cathie Badalamenti)
Financial Support and Future Steps
The new courts will be located in WCC’s parking lot, across from the existing courts and north of Orca Field and the tennis courts. The project has received substantial financial backing, including $2 million from donor Claude Blackburn and $125,000 from an anonymous donor.
“I thought people would want my money so I created a three-part vision,”. “I would cover 100 percent of a 12-court pickleball pavilion.”(Claude Blackburn)
Blackburn first proposed the idea to the Bellingham Parks Department and Western Washington University but was turned down. In December 2024, he, the Bellingham Pickleball Club, and WCC agreed to proceed with the project.
A feasibility study will follow, expected to be completed by March or April. This study will help determine the budget and timeline for the project.
The Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion at Skagit Valley College cost $1.7 million to build. The new facility will be named soon, but it will not be referred to as a pavilion to prevent confusion among locals.
Once the new courts are finished, they will operate similarly to the Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion. Bellingham Pickleball Club members and WCC students will have dedicated hours on most courts in the morning and evening. The facility will host tournaments and be open year-round to anyone interested in playing.
“This pavilion will become a community center for Bellingham,”. “The vision is that it needs to be accessible to everyone and be a social event that bonds the community.”(Cathie Badalamenti)
This new facility is expected to boost the local pickleball scene and strengthen community connections in Bellingham.
News in Brief: Bellingham Pickleball Club
The Bellingham Pickleball Club and Whatcom Community College are collaborating to build 12 covered pickleball courts on the college campus, enhancing indoor play options in Whatcom County. Funded by donations totaling $2.125 million, the new facility will offer dedicated hours for club members and students, host tournaments, and serve as a community center, promoting social interaction and strengthening local connections.
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