Pickleball Courts at The Cooler: The owner of The Cooler in Alpharetta has submitted plans to convert the ice rinks into indoor pickleball courts, sparking mixed reactions from the community. The news surprised many parents and athletes who have long considered the facility a second home. Ice skating and hockey sessions will no longer be scheduled after March.
A Shocking Announcement
John Bardis, the owner of The Cooler, confirmed plans to turn the two ice rinks into 18 indoor pickleball courts.
“We’ve been at this 27 years, so we now have fathers and mothers who grew up playing here or grew up skating here.” – (John Bardis)
The change became public after someone found the plans submitted to the City of Alpharetta and shared them on local Facebook groups. Many families expressed shock over the unexpected announcement.
“Devastating, I mean we all were devastated, for her it was heartbreaking,” said Courtney Nickels, whose daughter figure skates at The Cooler. Others felt there should have been more notice. “It just would’ve been nice to have a little more warning,” said Laura Cox, a parent of hockey and figure skating athletes.
Community Concerns and Reactions
The Cooler has been a central hub for skaters and hockey players for decades. “I mean all of the skaters, the skaters’ parents, the coaches, we’re all a big family,” said Nickels. Parents have since formed a Facebook group petitioning to keep the rinks open for skating.
“This is a place that we call home, so if we could just ask for a little time, you know,” added Nickels. Bardis acknowledged the concerns and assured families that discussions would take place.
“Our goal was to get those approvals and then immediately turn around and talk to our hockey parents and the kids and everybody else who depends on The Cooler in any way. We will sit down and talk to all of our family at The Cooler and describe and explain what we’re doing and listen to their concerns.” – (Bardis)
What Comes Next
Although a timeline for the transition has not been set, the end of skating operations is approaching. After March, reservations for ice time will no longer be available.
The change marks a significant shift for the facility, and while some look forward to the addition of pickleball, others are fighting to keep their beloved rink.
News in Brief: Pickleball Courts at The Cooler
The Cooler in Alpharetta plans to convert its ice rinks into 18 indoor pickleball courts. Parents and athletes were surprised by the announcement and have started a petition to keep the rinks open. The owner has promised to address concerns, but ice sessions will no longer be scheduled after March.
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