HOA’s Pickleball Court Blunder: A homeowners association in Aurora, Colorado, spent $140,000 converting an old tennis court into a pickleball court, only to scrap it after problems made the court unusable. The board then paid $3,600 to haul the faulty court to a dumpster, leaving residents frustrated and paying the price.
Pickleball is rapidly growing in the U.S., with public courts increasing by 650% in major cities, according to the Trust for Public Land. But this Aurora HOA’s experience shows that big investments don’t always lead to success.
Problems with the Court and HOA Decisions
The HOA board in Aurora hired a vendor without proper contracts or competitive bidding. After the $140,000 project, the court’s surface cracked, balls bounced strangely, and a resident was injured. When the vendor stopped responding, the HOA had no way to fix the issue.
HOA boards usually manage community funds and shared spaces, but sometimes they make costly decisions with little homeowner input or oversight. In this case, the homeowners paid for a failed project they didn’t fully approve.
What This Means for Homeowners
About 365,000 HOAs in the U.S. house nearly 30% of Americans. Many residents may not realize how much power their HOA boards have over spending. Without active participation, homeowners might be surprised by large bills or wasted money.
This incident is a warning to HOA communities everywhere to demand transparency and protect themselves from costly mistakes.
News in Brief: HOA’s Pickleball Court Blunder
A Colorado HOA spent $140,000 on a pickleball court that was unusable and later paid $3,600 to discard it. The case highlights risks when HOA boards make large decisions without proper oversight, leaving homeowners to cover the cost of poor projects.
ALSO READ: New Pickleball Court at Aging Well Center Promises Fresh Fun and Fitness for Woonsocket Seniors