New Pickleball Courts Proposed for Olsen Park: Pickleball enthusiasts in northern New Hanover County may soon have a new place to enjoy their sport, as the city of Wilmington has made plans to expand Olsen Park with four new pickleball courts. The proposed project, known as Olsen Park Phase II, aims to enhance the park’s offerings, which already include a variety of athletic facilities and amenities.
According to the city’s advertisement for bids, the project will also add a multi-purpose field, an asphalt trail, and additional parking. The new pickleball courts are planned to be constructed adjacent to existing field number 5, providing a dedicated space for the sport that has been rapidly gaining popularity nationwide.
In addition to the primary project, several bid alternates could further enhance the park. These include the addition of four more pickleball courts, another multi-purpose field, the conversion of the current roundabout into a three-way stop, an extra asphalt trail, and the installation of conduit for future lighting. These alternates, if approved, would significantly expand the park’s capacity to host local and regional sporting events.
The multipurpose fields, each approximately the size of a standard football field, will be encircled by an eight-foot-wide asphalt trail that will wind around a portion of the park’s perimeter. A black vinyl-coated chain link fence, standing four feet tall, will surround the multipurpose fields, ensuring safety and security for all users. The pickleball courts will also be enclosed by a chain link fence, with three sides at four feet high and one side at 12 feet, accommodating the unique needs of the sport.
Olsen Park, located near Laney High School at 5510 Olsen Park Lane, is already a hub of recreational activity. The park currently features five lighted baseball and softball fields, a volleyball court, two picnic shelters, the Miracle Field with specialized rubberized turf, and the Kiwanis Miracle Playground, noted as the largest accessible playground in the Southeast. This collaborative project between the city of Wilmington and New Hanover County has made Olsen Park a popular venue for regional and state athletic tournaments.
As the city moves forward with the bidding process, a pre-bid conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. on September 10 at the Skyline Center. All interested firms must submit their bids by 3 p.m. on October 8, according to the city’s advertisement. If all goes according to plan, northern New Hanover County could soon boast an expanded recreational facility that caters to the growing number of pickleball enthusiasts in the area.
News in Brief: New Pickleball Courts Proposed for Olsen Park
Plans are underway to add four pickleball courts to Olsen Park in northern New Hanover County, with potential for four more. The expansion, part of Olsen Park Phase II, also includes a multi-purpose field, an asphalt trail, and additional parking. The pickleball courts will be built adjacent to existing field number 5 and enclosed with a chain link fence.
The project may further enhance the park with additional fields, trails, and lighting. Located near Laney High School, Olsen Park already hosts various sports facilities and regional tournaments. Bids for the project are due by October 8, with a pre-bid conference scheduled for September 10.
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