Wes Howard Memorial Sports Park Pickleball Expansion: The City of Medford will soon begin building one of Oregon’s largest outdoor pickleball complexes next to Rogue X at Wes Howard Memorial Sports Park. The $1.8 million project, supported by Lithia Motors Inc., is set to begin this fall and could open by spring 2026, depending on weather.
The Medford City Council recently gave unanimous approval to name the new complex after Lithia Motors. The facility will include 19 outdoor pickleball courts, with room for six more in the future. The courts will be open for public drop-in play from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. when tournaments are not in session.
Inside and Outside Play
In addition to the outdoor courts, up to 32 more courts can be set up inside Rogue X, the Rogue Credit Union Community Complex. The indoor courts will cost $5 to use.
Rich Rosenthal, director of Medford Parks and Recreation, said,
“I can foresee Medford having many regional and national pickleball tournaments.”
He added that the complex would be the largest of its kind between Redding and Eugene.
Funding and Features
Lithia Motors Inc. is providing $500,000 for naming rights. Another $800,000 is coming from private donations raised by the Southern Oregon Pickleball Foundation Board. The Howard Memorial Sports Park Inc. is giving $500,000, and the City of Medford is covering the final $500,000.
Rich Rosenthal called Lithia the
“pickleball linchpin” and said, “It allows us to move forward with this pickleball contract.”
He explained that without Lithia’s help, the project would have taken longer.
The outdoor complex will also include a championship court. In the future, a cover might be added over the courts for weather protection.
Growth in the Park
The pickleball facility will be built near three sand volleyball courts. The park will also feature a Vietnam War Memorial, a neighborhood park, and Little League baseball fields.
The park is named after Wesley Howard, a local philanthropist who left $1 million to help build the sports park. In April 2020, the board of Howard Memorial Sports Park leased the land to the city. The city may buy the park later, depending on the progress of Rogue X.
Community Excitement
Mark DeBoer, vice president of real estate at Lithia Motors and a board member of the Southern Oregon Pickleball Foundation, said,
“I’ve loved the game for about four years now. “I’m very excited to see this built,”(Mark DeBoer)
and hopes the six extra courts can be added in the future.
Pickleball has grown fast across Southern Oregon. Some cities have had trouble keeping up with demand. Rich Rosenthal said younger people are joining the game and that it’s not just a passing trend.
“It will be a bonanza of economic activity,” he said.
Councilor Kevin Stine also praised the project and said pickleball is the “craze that has swept the nation.”
News in Brief: Wes Howard Memorial Sports Park Pickleball Expansion
Medford will build a $1.8 million pickleball complex with 19 outdoor courts next to Rogue X, supported by $500,000 from Lithia Motors Inc. The project is set to open by spring 2026. City officials expect the courts to draw major tournaments and boost local tourism and recreation.
ALSO READ: $5 Million Smashers Pickleball Complex Faces Surprising Delay—Here’s What Went Wrong