Work starting on new pickleball courts

Construction has started on six new pickleball courts at Legacy Park in north Lethbridge.

The City announced on Monday that the work will have an impact on park users with fencing and signage being installed around the area were the courts will be built.

“The existing courts will remain open if there are no safety issues present, however the northern three courts will be closed sometime in June or early July until completion. The southern three courts are expected to remain open during construction,” said the City in a statement.

A staging area will be created in the northern section of the adjacent parking while the rest of it will be available for park users.

Weather permitting, the construction work is expected to be finished by mid-August.

The courts will include Plexipave coating and windscreens on the new ones. They will be accessible by a concrete walkway.

Council recently approved a revised plan to build the courts.

The revised plan eliminates the addition of wind mitigation, alternative surfacing, benches and a viewing area being added to the six existing courts at Legacy.

That Plexipave coating was preferred for the existing courts because it is more conducive to playing the game than on asphalt and for hosting major events, said Harper, adding that it’s also easier on shoes and bodies.

Construction costs for the new courts came in substantially over budget last year and a request to the Economic Standing Policy Committee of city council on Jan. 18 for an additional $300,000 was turned down.

Administration reduced the scope of the project and sought new bids and the highest evaluated bid has returned within budget.