Cornwall Memorial Park Pickleball Upgrade: Bellingham Parks and Recreation has started turning one tennis court at Cornwall Memorial Park into three pickleball courts. The work began on July 2 and should be finished in early August. The upgrade will cost about $198,000 and aims to improve playing conditions for both sports.
The second tennis court will also get a new surface. It will remain a full-size tennis court but will have lines added for pickleball. This project was first planned for last year but had to wait because of bad weather.
Upgrades and Features
The new work includes fencing around each court, repairing the old surfaces, adding fresh striping, and replacing some equipment. Nicole Oliver, director of Bellingham Parks and Recreation, explained why these upgrades matter.
“We can expect a much more upgraded, usable play surface. It is a bouncier surface and makes play easier and more fun.”( Nicole Oliver)
Growing Demand for Pickleball
Pickleball has become very popular in Bellingham in recent years. The three new courts will be added to six others that were built in 2018.
Cathie Badalamenti, secretary of the Bellingham Pickleball Club, said players are happy about the changes.
The parks department listened to input from tennis players too. Nicole Oliver shared how the city reached a balance at a meeting earlier this year.
“We thought the favor would be for pickleball, but the tennis players showed up, so we ended up with a compromise,” ( Nicole Oliver).
Looking Ahead
Once completed, these updates will help meet the needs of both pickleball and tennis fans. The project shows the city’s effort to support different sports and keep parks enjoyable for everyone.
News in Brief: Cornwall Memorial Park Pickleball Upgrade
Bellingham began resurfacing Cornwall Memorial Park courts to add three pickleball courts and improve tennis facilities. Work started July 2 and will finish in August. The $198,000 project comes after weather delays and strong community interest in both sports. Players can expect better surfaces soon.