Salem to Add New Pickleball Courts: This summer, four neighborhood parks in Salem, Oregon, will receive new pickleball courts as part of a larger set of park improvements. The upgrades are funded by the 2022 Safety and Livability Bond, approved by voters to support community recreation and public spaces.
Community Calls for More Pickleball Courts
The projects were selected based on recommendations from a city steering committee and feedback from residents. As pickleball continues to grow in popularity, Salem is responding by adding courts to meet demand.
“We would like to again thank our voters for supporting the 2022 Safety and Livability Bond and thank our community members for their input in this process,” said Salem City Councilor Micki Varney, who also serves as a liaison to the Salem Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
“Maintaining our public infrastructure is essential to a thriving, resilient, and welcoming Salem, and community input is an essential part of that investment. These projects in particular reflect what our parks staff have heard from neighbors over time — the desire for safe, inclusive, and relevant spaces to play and gather that will continue to serve generations of residents.” – (Micki Varney)
New Pickleball Courts Coming to Neighborhood Parks
Highland Park will see the most notable addition for pickleball fans, with two new dedicated pickleball courts planned alongside a full-sized tennis court. The park’s upgrades, which include fencing, lighting, and resurfacing, will cost $555,000.
Morningside Park will also offer new pickleball opportunities. Its existing multi-sport athletic court will be enlarged and resurfaced with pickleball striping, in addition to upgrades for basketball and tennis. The cost of the improvements is $783,000.
These additions come as pickleball’s popularity continues to rise, especially among seniors and families looking for a fun, low-impact sport. Salem’s move to add more courts follows similar trends in cities nationwide, where demand for pickleball space often exceeds availability.
Other Park Improvements
Hoover Park will receive a full overhaul of its current sports facilities. The outdated tennis courts will be replaced with new basketball and soccer amenities, at a cost of $805,000.
Livingston Park will focus on enhancing its playground and accessibility features, including new equipment and seating areas for parents, with a budget of $404,000.
Meanwhile, Geer Park is already undergoing work that includes new dog parks, soccer field improvements, new artificial turf on baseball infields, and a large skatepark in the works.
Next year, McKay Park and Riverfront Park are scheduled for additional enhancements. McKay Park will add soccer fields and restrooms, while Riverfront Park will expand and renovate its playground.
Pickleball’s Growing Role in Salem Recreation
The addition of new pickleball courts reflects the sport’s rising role in Salem’s recreation scene. With public courts often full and many residents eager for more options, the city’s new investments will help create more space for both casual and competitive players.
As work begins this summer, these projects aim to make Salem parks more welcoming and active places for all residents, with pickleball serving as a key part of the effort to encourage community wellness and play.
News in Brief: Salem to Add New Pickleball Courts
Four Salem parks will get new pickleball courts and other upgrades this summer. Highland Park will add two dedicated courts, while Morningside Park will offer new pickleball striping. The improvements are funded by the 2022 bond. Additional park enhancements are also planned at Geer Park, McKay Park, and Riverfront Park.
ALSO READ: Proposed Pickleball Complex May Add 16 Pickleball Courts Near Palm Springs Airport