Dunning’s Shabbona Park Adds New Pickleball Courts: Shabbona Park recently unveiled its revamped courts, much to the delight of local pickleball enthusiasts. The transformation saw five aging tennis courts replaced with a mix of three tennis courts and four pickleball courts, marking a significant upgrade for the park located at 6935 W. Addison St.
Community Reaction
The new courts opened last week, with Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th) emphasizing their positive impact on the neighborhood. “They’re great for the community,” Sposato said. “They’re both solid parks, and the courts will make them even greater.”
Local pickleball player Pearl Melchor expressed the excitement shared by many. She and her fellow picklers had been eagerly awaiting the chance to try out the new facilities. Jerry Pistone, a 74-year-old enthusiast, navigated the courts with ease during a recent session, remarking, “They’re real nice.”
Broader Initiative
The upgrades at Shabbona Park are part of the Park District’s broader Pickleball Mania initiative, which began in the fall of 2022. This initiative aims to respond to the sport’s surging popularity by constructing 50 pickleball courts across the city by 2025, funded by the Chicago Recovery Program. The Shabbona Park courts came with a price tag of $270,000, while the forthcoming courts at Portage Park are budgeted at $415,000, according to Park District spokesperson Michele Lemons.
Pistone, who picked up pickleball after retiring from the Park District four years ago, now plays five days a week. “It keeps us healthy and it keeps us out of trouble,” he said, pointing to his fellow players.
Melchor, who discovered her passion for pickleball two years ago, praised the new courts for their accessibility and the opportunity they provide for continuous learning. “I like it because it’s got a lot of room for learning, especially for someone my age,” the 72-year-old said.
Future Developments
Portage Park is also set to receive new courts as part of the initiative. The six existing tennis courts will be replaced with four tennis courts and four pickleball courts. However, the plans for Portage Park haven’t been without controversy. A proposal to include a basketball court was unexpectedly shelved after a miscommunication from the Park District.
In August, the Friends of Portage Park Advisory Council were asked to gather community feedback on two redesign options: one with three resurfaced tennis courts, one basketball court, and four pickleball courts, and another with three resurfaced tennis courts and eight pickleball courts. Community feedback, collected through the Portage Park Farmers Market and an online survey, overwhelmingly supported the inclusion of a basketball court.
However, Park District officials later clarified that the basketball court option was never meant to be considered due to the funding restrictions of the Pickleball Mania program. Consequently, the advisory council had to choose between four pickleball courts and four tennis courts, or six pickleball courts and three tennis courts. The council opted for the four-and-four configuration.
Sophie McNeill, a council member, voiced the community’s frustration over the miscommunication. “Everybody was so psyched about getting the basketball court,” she said. “I felt like we got a lot of people’s hopes up for nothing.”
Lemons noted that the final design received overwhelming community support. Construction at Portage Park began in March and is expected to be completed by the fall.
The introduction of new pickleball courts at Shabbona Park and the upcoming courts at Portage Park reflect the Park District’s commitment to enhancing recreational facilities and meeting the evolving interests of the community.
News In Brief: Dunning’s Shabbona Park Adds New Pickleball Courts
Shabbona Park, located at 6935 W. Addison St., has introduced four new pickleball courts, replacing five aging tennis courts, as part of a significant park upgrade. This initiative, praised by Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th), is part of the Park District’s Pickleball Mania, aiming to build 50 pickleball courts citywide by 2025. Local players, including Pearl Melchor and Jerry Pistone, have already enjoyed the new facilities.
Funded by the Chicago Recovery Program, the Shabbona Park upgrade cost $270,000, with Portage Park slated to receive similar improvements at $415,000. Despite some controversy over the inclusion of a basketball court, the community-supported redesign at Portage Park will feature a mix of four pickleball and four tennis courts, with completion expected by fall.
These developments highlight the Park District’s commitment to enhancing community recreational facilities and accommodating the growing popularity of pickleball.
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