Shawnee City Council Invests in Pickleball: The Shawnee City Council has approved a $3.84 million renovation project for Garrett Park, bringing long-awaited improvements, including new pickleball courts, an outdoor fitness area, and updated baseball fields. The vote passed unanimously (8-0) on February 24, 2025.
The 33-acre park on 47th Street will undergo a transformation, funded primarily by the city’s “Parks and Pipes” sales tax, which Shawnee residents renewed in 2023.
Pickleball Courts and Noise Concerns Addressed
One of the most anticipated upgrades is the addition of two pickleball courts, replacing a half-court basketball area. A public engagement survey showed that pickleball ranked high on the list of desired amenities.
Shawnee’s Parks and Recreation Director, Tonya Lecuru, acknowledged concerns about pickleball noise, citing issues faced by neighboring cities like Prairie Village. To prevent disturbances:
- The courts will not have lighting and will close at sundown.
- The city is implementing noise mitigation measures for the seven nearby homes within 300 feet of the courts.
Councilmember Tony Gillette supported the courts but raised concerns about the lack of lighting, stating that evening play in the summer would be ideal. Lecuru responded that no Shawnee parks currently have nighttime lighting, though it could be considered in the future.
Additional Park Improvements
Beyond pickleball, the renovation project will include:
- A new bodyweight exercise area with seven fitness stations, funded in part by a $40,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign.
- ADA-compliant trails and playground enhancements to ensure accessibility.
- Updated baseball fields to improve conditions for local teams.
- A redesigned playground featuring interactive equipment, musical instruments, swings, and themed playhouses to encourage creativity.
Councilmember Laurel Burchfield praised the project’s focus on universal design and accessibility, calling it a huge win for families with children who need ADA-compliant play areas.
“It means so much to me that you put so much work into the universal design of the playground, making sure everything is ADA compliant. It feels like we go above and beyond and that means so much to the families with children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to go out and play on our playgrounds.” – (Burchfield)
Construction Timeline and Park Closures
- March – May 2025: The city will accept and evaluate bids and begin preconstruction.
- June – December 2025: Full-scale construction begins, during which trails, ball fields, and playgrounds will be closed for safety.
- Completion by December 2025, bringing a fully upgraded and modernized park to the Shawnee community.
“There’s a lot of ADA issues with the trails, to make sure that we bring them up to code. So it’s going to be something that will be completely shut down during that period of time.” – (Burchfield)
News in Brief: Shawnee City Council Invests in Pickleball
The Shawnee City Council has approved a $3.84 million renovation for Garrett Park, featuring two new pickleball courts, a fitness area, ADA-compliant trails, and updated baseball fields. Funded by the “Parks and Pipes” sales tax, the project begins in June 2025 and is expected to be completed by December.
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