Calusa Park Pickleball Court Expansion: Key Biscayne resident Andrew Maury recently asked the Village Council to consider adding more pickleball courts to Calusa Park. At a council meeting last week, he presented a video showing all four existing courts in use at 7 p.m., with many players waiting to play. Maury said the growing popularity of the sport on the island shows the need for more space.
“The demand grossly outweighs the supply right now at Calusa,” said Andrew Maury. “Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America and our island is no outlier to that phenomenon.”
Plan for Court Expansion
Andrew Maury’s proposal included adding two more courts to the center of the current playing area. The idea came from measurements taken by Susan Sawyer, who helped get the original pickleball lines added to the tennis surface. The middle section could fit two courts if a bench and two small fence sections are removed.
Maury and other players received estimates for the cost of resurfacing and repairs. They are asking for $15,000 to be added to the Village of Key Biscayne’s budget for fiscal year 2025–2026. The funds would cover four new courts, along with nets and dividers.
“In an ideal world, you could resurface and repair both main slabs of concrete and make one half just for pickleball, in order to have six pickleball courts on one side and retain the two tennis courts on the other,” Andrew Maury told the Islander News on Sunday. “That would make the most sense.”
Wear and Tear Raises Concerns
The concrete surface at Calusa Park has visible cracks due to sun and weather. Andrew Maury said that adding more courts or adjusting court lines could make better use of the space while improving safety.
There are few other places in the area to play pickleball. The Ritz-Carlton has clay courts, but players must pay to use them. The Key Biscayne Community Center also has indoor courts, but only for seniors aged 55 and up, and only at set times.
Accessibility and Community Benefit
Andrew Maury said pickleball is a game everyone can enjoy. “The beautiful thing about pickleball is that it’s so easily accessible for all ages and all skill levels and it’s a good sport to work on reflex skills and neuro skills,” he said.
Calusa Park is part of Miami-Dade County land under the Matheson family’s donation rules, but the Village of Key Biscayne handles the park’s upkeep.
The Village Council may discuss the proposal at its next meeting on August 19 or during upcoming budget talks in September.
News in Brief: Calusa Park Pickleball Court Expansion
Key Biscayne resident Andrew Maury proposed adding two more pickleball courts to Calusa Park. He shared a video showing high demand and asked for $15,000 in the next budget. The Village Council may review the request in August or September. The goal is to expand play options and improve court conditions.
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