Bedford County’s Outdoor Pickleball Courts: Bedford County is on track to build its first outdoor pickleball courts after the Board of Supervisors approved advertising bids for the construction. This move comes as part of the county’s effort to accommodate the rising demand for pickleball, a sport that has seen rapid growth in recent years.
Addressing Community Needs
Chris Higgins, Bedford County’s Director of Parks and Recreation, emphasized the importance of adapting to community needs.
“We’re always looking for future enhancements. Times change and needs of the community change.” – (Chris Higgins)
Pickleball has become a hit with people of all ages, and Bedford is keen to keep up with the growing interest. The new courts will be located at the Rec Field Complex on Bedford Avenue, which currently offers tennis and basketball facilities.
Revamping Existing Facilities
Higgins pointed out that some of the existing facilities were not fully utilized.
“I feel it’s underutilized right now due to the duplication of service. The town has really nice tennis courts over at Liberty Lake park. They have a really good location for that. So we feel that the conversion and adding courts will give people the ability to play anytime on their own schedule. Right now we are having pickleball open gym times at the county gym.” – (Chris Higgins)
By converting underused tennis courts into pickleball courts, the county aims to offer more opportunities for the public to enjoy the sport at their convenience. Presently, pickleball players in the area can participate only during open gym hours at the county gym.
Upgraded Sports Complex
The $300,000 project will replace aging courts with six pickleball courts, a new basketball court, and necessary updates such as fencing and new surfacing.
“The existing basketball courts are over here. We will be removing them and bringing them over to this one tennis court area, which will be converted into a basketball court. We will also be adding six pickleball courts down this direction.” – (Chris Higgins)
The new facility is expected to improve accessibility, offering the community a dedicated space for pickleball year-round.
Construction Timeline
With the county planning to resurface the existing courts, the project is set to begin in the spring after asphalt plants reopen. This is a key aspect, as the courts will need to be completely removed and resurfaced.
“One of the big things with a project like this is asphalt plants close down. We will be taking the courts completely up and resurfacing them. So the project most likely won’t start until the Spring when the plants reopen.” – (Chris Higgins)
Once completed, the upgraded facility will be open seven days a week, a significant improvement over the current four-day availability at the county gym.
News in Brief: Bedford County’s Outdoor Pickleball Courts
Bedford County is set to build its first outdoor pickleball courts at the Rec Field Complex, approved by the Board of Supervisors. The $300,000 project will replace outdated courts with six pickleball courts, a new basketball court, and updated amenities. Construction is expected to begin in the spring, with the facility open seven days a week after completion, enhancing access to the sport for local players.
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