Heritage Park Pickleball Courts Upgrade: About a dozen pickleball players urged the Broadway Town Council on Tuesday to complete three unfinished courts at Heritage Park. The courts, first finished in June 2023, were extended by six feet to meet USA Pickleball standards, but additional work is needed before official play can begin.
Courts Need Upgrades
Shawn Moorman, an active member of the local pickleball community, said the courts draw players from beyond Broadway.
“These tournaments, they’re just going crazy across [Virginia]. They can easily generate about $5,000. We got hugely positive feedback when we had ours.”(Shawn Moorman)
However, the courts currently lack proper perimeter fencing, have sagging nets meant for indoor use, and require the markings to be re-centered after the six-foot extension.
Fundraising Efforts
In August 2024, Shawn Moorman started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for court improvements. He has collected $3,100 to help build fencing, replace damaged nets, and adjust the court markings. Another player noted the unfinished condition makes the courts hard to use safely.
Town Officials Respond
Broadway Mayor David Jordan said the courts have been playable but are lopsided.
“Currently, the courts are longer on one side than they are on the other. The courts have been playable. It’s just, right now, until we get everything, it’s lopsided.
We just need to get it centered up so that we are able to put our fencing around it so that everything is secure, and to enable safer play, so people won’t have to run after the ball.”(David Jordan)
Mayor Jordan said the work could be done anytime from fall to spring, and the courts remain open despite being incomplete.
Councilman Richard Fulk noted that many players come from outside Broadway. One resident suggested charging nonresidents a fee to help cover upgrades. Shawn Moorman responded, emphasizing pickleball’s social nature.
“Pickleball, by definition, is extremely social. It’s rare for a pickleball player to play at a single court. Almost all of us will play at Harrisonburg, at Massanutten. There are folks who live in Harrisonburg and come to use our courts, and we will use the EMU courts.”(Shawn Moorman)
Moorman said most players using the Broadway courts are still town residents.
Next Steps
Mayor David Jordan said the town is reviewing options and waiting for updates from the supplier of the court materials to ensure the work is done correctly.
“We’re looking at all the options. I’m waiting for communication back from my supplier of the material that I put down on that court, just to make sure we do it correctly and we don’t have to redo it another time.”(David Jordan)
News in Brief: Heritage Park Pickleball Courts Upgrade
Broadway pickleball players urged the town council to finish three incomplete courts at Heritage Park. Shawn Moorman raised $3,100 to help with fencing, nets, and court markings. Mayor David Jordan said work could begin soon, with the goal of making the courts safe and fully playable for local and visiting players.