Burlington’s New Pickleball Courts: The construction of 23 new pickleball courts in Burlington, North Carolina, has been delayed by five months due to weather and infrastructure challenges. Originally set to open in September 2024, the $4 million project now has no confirmed completion date, according to Davis Montgomery, capital projects manager for the City of Burlington.
Weather and Infrastructure Issues Cause Setbacks
Heavy rainfall has been a major cause of delays, creating drainage issues that slowed down site preparation.
“It ended up making this area like one large pond,” Montgomery said. “It retained the water longer than it should have. So it took us longer for it to dry out, and then longer for us to be able to pack and do what we needed to do.”
Another challenge has been designing multipurpose light poles. The city is ensuring they are equipped for future upgrades, such as Wi-Fi and speaker systems, making them more functional and adaptable.
“We wanted these lights, these poles, to be capable of carrying Wi-Fi, speaker wire — in addition to the energy wire for the lights themselves, and any additional things that may come in the future,” Montgomery explained.
Community Excitement and Online Engagement
Despite the delays, local pickleball enthusiasts remain eager for the courts to open. Burlington resident Chad Coble, an active player, started a Facebook group dedicated to the project, which has grown to over 850 members.
“As soon as I heard about it, I was like, ‘We already have all these text groups. We’re meeting people, so why not have a Facebook page just for that,’” Coble said.
The group has become a hub for updates and insider information about construction progress.
Noise Reduction and Artistic Touches
The 17 courts at Burlington City Park, located near Willow Creek Apartments, have been designed with soundproofing materials to minimize noise for nearby residents. A thick, dense material will line the fences to absorb sound, alongside natural barriers like trees and shrubs.
In addition to the courts, the site will feature a new mural by local artist Artie Barksdale III. The pickleball-themed artwork, painted on a practice wall, reflects Burlington’s colors of blue, green, and turquoise.
“It’s all about Burlington — to enhance the aesthetic, the color choice of Burlington, pickleball,” Barksdale said. “It gives Burlington something different outside of the norm tennis court.”
What’s Next for the Project?
Although no official opening date has been announced, city officials are working to complete the courts as soon as possible.
“Most of the people — in fact, all the people that I’ve talked to — have just expressed how anxious they are and how excited they are and how they can’t wait to get it open,” Montgomery said.
Until then, players will have to wait, but city officials assure that the final product will be worth it.
News in Brief: Burlington’s New Pickleball Courts
Burlington’s new pickleball courts face delays due to weather and infrastructure challenges. The $4 million project, which includes 23 courts across two parks, was supposed to open in September 2024 but now has no confirmed opening date. City officials are working on soundproofing, lighting, and artistic enhancements before completion.
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