Albuquerque Expands Pickleball Facilities: The City of Albuquerque is investing nearly $2 million to build new dedicated pickleball courts at Ventana Ranch Park. With the sport’s growing popularity, the project aims to reduce long wait times and accommodate more players. Construction is set to begin this year.
Addressing Court Shortages
District 5 Councilor Dan Lewis acknowledged the community’s concerns about the limited court availability and confirmed that the City Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) is actively working to address the issue. The new courts will provide additional space for players while balancing the needs of both pickleball and tennis enthusiasts.
“We understand the frustration expressed by pickleball players regarding court availability at Ventana Ranch Park,”.
“The popularity of pickleball has surged, and we are committed to providing adequate facilities to meet this growing demand.”-(Councilor Lewis)
Expansion Plans and Features
Currently, Ventana Ranch Park has 12 tennis courts, with six dual-striped for pickleball, allowing up to 48 pickleball players at a time. However, peak hours often exceed this capacity. The new project will add 20 dedicated pickleball courts, increasing the park’s total capacity to 80 players. An administration building will also be constructed as part of the expansion.
While PRD is expanding pickleball facilities, it will maintain six unstriped tennis courts for league play, high school and middle school teams, USTA events, and PRD tennis programs. Dual-striped courts do not meet USTA standards, and further modifications would create conflicts between the two sports.
Encouraging Community Cooperation
Councilor Lewis urged players to remain patient and cooperative as construction progresses.
“The City made a substantial commitment to the pickleball community on the West Side,”
“We are proud that the City will be installing those new state-of-the-art facilities and meeting the needs of our residents.”-(Councilor Lewis)
PRD officials also stressed the importance of continuing to share courts and rotate play while the new facilities are under development. They encourage players to utilize other nearby locations, such as Sierra Vista and Eagle Ranch, and are considering dual-striping courts at Paradise Skies Park to further expand options in the area.
“We encourage pickleball players to utilize all available facilities in the West Side area,”.
“We also ask for the community’s patience and cooperation during the construction phase of the new dedicated pickleball courts.”-(Councilor Lewis)
Looking Ahead
Once completed, the new courts will significantly enhance pickleball opportunities in the area, easing congestion and providing a better playing experience for enthusiasts. The investment underscores the city’s commitment to growing the sport while ensuring space remains available for tennis players.
News in Brief: Albuquerque Expands Pickleball Facilities
The City of Albuquerque is investing nearly $2 million to build 20 dedicated pickleball courts at Ventana Ranch Park. The project will begin this year to address increasing demand. Councilor Dan Lewis emphasized patience during construction, while PRD encourages players to use other facilities until the new courts are complete.
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