Northeast Park Pickleball Courts Expansion: The Meridian City Council voted 4-0 on Tuesday to award a $273,603.18 contract to Australian Courtworks Inc. to build new pickleball courts at Northeast Park. The project will give pickleball players their own space and ease scheduling conflicts at the Northeast Park Tennis Center.
Pickleball Courts to Reduce Conflicts
Aleasha Jordan, director of operations for Meridian Parks and Recreation, said the new courts will solve problems caused by mixed use of tennis and pickleball courts.
“We figured out a whole location that we have that’s on a piece of property that the city already has access to, and now this is just the creation of the courts at a different location. So pickleball will have their own courts out at northeast.”(Aleasha Jordan)
The council began preparing the site in June with dirt work while waiting for final designs. The new courts will complement other pickleball courts previously converted from tennis courts at the Sammie Davidson Complex.
Pickleball, invented in 1965, is now widely popular across the United States, with over 36 million players. The new courts at Northeast Park will add facilities on the east side of the city.
Plans for a New Animal Shelter
The City Council also approved advertising for construction bids for a new animal shelter. The current shelter on Cooper Avenue is outdated and cannot meet the city’s needs. Brian McCary, Animal Control Supervisor, said in March that estimates for the new shelter are around $753,000. The council previously set aside $200,000 in 2024 and allocated the rest earlier this year.
The project will start with demolition of the old building, including removing the concrete slab. The new shelter will be built in the same location. While construction is ongoing, Meridian Animal Control operations will temporarily move to a neighboring building formerly used to house stray animals.
Community Impact
The new pickleball courts will give local players a dedicated space, reducing conflicts with tennis players and making scheduling easier. The animal shelter project aims to improve conditions for animals and staff, providing a modern facility to meet the city’s growing needs. Both projects reflect Meridian’s focus on community recreation and safety.
News in Brief: Northeast Park Pickleball Courts Expansion
Meridian City Council awarded a $273,603.18 bid to Australian Courtworks Inc. to build new pickleball courts at Northeast Park. Aleasha Jordan said the courts will separate pickleball from tennis play. The council also authorized advertising for bids to replace the old Cooper Avenue animal shelter, with construction planned at the same site.
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