Palmetto Pickleball Courts New Park: A new park featuring eight pickleball courts and a walking trail is coming to Palmetto, Florida. The park will be built at the southwest corner of 14th Avenue West and 10th Street West. Construction is set to begin in early 2025, with completion expected by mid-to-late 2026.
Park Features and Layout
The park will include a basketball court, a playground, a covered pavilion, and a multi-use grass field. A 0.7-mile walking trail will circle the park. There will also be 55 parking spaces, mainly covering the existing Ninth Street West between 15th Avenue West and 14th Avenue West.
The new pickleball courts will be placed on the southwest corner of the lot. Just south of them will be the basketball court, followed by the main parking lot, pavilion, and playground. The grass field will stretch all the way to Eighth Street West.
Project Background
The $3 million project is one of the City of Palmetto’s capital improvements. In 2024, city leaders approved the redevelopment of this space, which now includes an abandoned baseball field and an open grassy area.
Palmetto Mayor Dan West shared why the park is important to the community.
“Every time that I turn around, somebody’s been talking about, ‘Golly, I wish we had more pickleball courts or a place in this part of Palmetto (for recreation),” (Dan West).
As a child, Dan West played soccer on this very field with the Manatee Area Youth Soccer Organization. He said the lot could have been used for housing, but he is glad it’s becoming a park.
“At one time, it was talked about what would this be used for,”. “Additional housing? This or that, or whatever it might be. But I’m glad it’s going to be a park that will accommodate everybody in the whole city for different things.”(Dan West)
Future Use and Community Impact
The park will serve as a place for both fun and fitness. Dan West said he believes the walking trail will become a popular spot for locals.
“Even now, you see people walking the sidewalks here and there,”. “And so this is a good place for people to meet up and walk together.”(Dan West)
North of the park site, across 14th Avenue West and 10th Street West, are current pickleball and tennis courts. Under architect Fawley Bryant’s new design, those courts will be updated to four tennis courts. The new eight pickleball courts will be added as part of the park project.
The new park will not affect nearby landmarks. The cemetery on the east side of 14th Avenue West will remain untouched. Residential homes and Emiline’s Antiques shop next to the park will also not be disturbed.
News in Brief: Palmetto Pickleball Courts New Park
Palmetto will build a new community park with eight pickleball courts, a walking trail, and more. The park, located at 14th Avenue West and 10th Street West, will begin construction in early 2025 and finish by late 2026. Mayor Dan West says the park will serve the entire city for various activities.