The City of Windsor is building its first outdoor pickleball courts in Forest Glade Optimist Park.
It's part of $2.2-million in upgrades underway at the east end park.
"This is a sport quickly growing in popularity," said Ward 7 Councillor Jeewan Gill. "Pickleball players will no longer have to compete with tennis players for court time."
There are nine tennis courts located in Forest Glade Optimist Park, but three will be converted into ten pickleball courts.
Construction will get underway on those in September and hopefully open by the end of the year. The remaining tennis courts will be resurfaced.
(A map of amenities at Forest Glade Optimist Park courtesy of the City of Windsor)
Meanwhile, the city's Senior Parks Manager said ground would break soon on new public washrooms. James Chako said that would take about 90 days.
Early this summer, the city hopes to open a new splash pad in the same park.
"We'll have 15 independent stations," said Chako. "It is a sports-themed splash pad, which ties in very nicely with all of the amenities within the park. It has room for up to 75 children to be playing at one time, and is in excess of 220 square metres."
In 2018, the city added two new basketball courts and a multi-purpose sports court with a specialized surface to give players a better grip and improve drainage.
Lighting in the park is also improving. Chako told reporters another 27 lights would be added throughout the space, along with new catch basins to reduce flooding and improvements to the parking lot.
Forest Glade Optimist Park already has an arena, community centre, library, playground, and baseball diamond. However, a survey launched on Friday will ask residents what other features they would like to see.
"If you'd like to see additional shade structures, trees, benches, tables, additional lighting with the court," explained Chako. Responses will help the city come up with a final design.
The improvements are part of Windsor's $1.6-billion, ten-year capital plan. The city is spending $170-million on public infrastructure this year alone, with $17.5-million going to parks and recreation.
