Outdoor Pickleball Complex: Feasibility in Focus

NEW! OPEN HOUSE ANNOUNCED
Wednesday, September 18 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Fossil Creek Community Park (Oval Pavilion, south of tennis courts)

Join City staff at an open house to learn about the current status of the pickleball complex feasibility study and proposed plans for a pickleball complex at Fossil Creek Community Park. Drop by to chat with staff, review project materials, and share your feedback. Can't make it? Check back here on September 18 for additional information on the proposed plan and how to submit feedback online.

QUESTIONNAIRE FEEDBACK SUMMARY

The online questionnaire, which was open for four weeks and closed on June 7, received 1,448 responses.
83% of respondents currently play pickleball; 17% do not currently play pickleball.

A significant 89% of participants believe a pickleball complex would benefit the community, with support for a potential pickleball complex at either Spring Canyon Community Park or Fossil Creek Community Park.

The survey revealed that the main concerns regarding the complex were noise impacts, programming of courts, the desire for more than 12 courts, and maintenance concerns of existing and future courts.
Overall, the survey results show there is a demand for more dedicated pickleball courts in Fort Collins, highlighting the sport's growth, and community benefits.

NEXT STEPS

Share findings and proposed plan for a pickleball complex at Fossil Creek Community Park with the community at the Open House.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Pickleball continues to be one of the fastest-growing sports in America, with participation increasing 223.5% over the past three years, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

The City's ReCreate: Parks & Recreation Master Plan, adopted in 2021, assessed community usage data and determined that an additional 13 pickleball courts should be built by the year 2040 to provide equitable access, and meet desired levels of service across the City.

Through awarded City Give funds, donated by the Fort Collins Pickleball Club, an outdoor pickleball complex study is now underway to determine if an existing community park site could accommodate an outdoor pickleball complex. Building an outdoor complex could help close the gap in the short term, while waiting for future community parks to be built.

For this project, an outdoor pickleball complex is a specialized recreational facility equipped with 12 designated pickleball courts. Typically featuring a hard surface like asphalt or concrete, these courts are marked with pickleball lines and equipped with nets for gameplay. The complex often includes amenities such as seating areas, shade structures, and lighting for evening play.

The current parks system includes the following inventory of pickleball courts:

(8) dedicated outdoor pickleball courts
(44) striped for pickleball on outdoor multi-use courts
- (25) on tennis
- (19) on other
Up to (12) indoor pickleball courts

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
As part of the research for the pickleball feasibility assessment, staff from the City's Park Planning & Development Division completed a thorough review of community parks to determine if an outdoor complex could realistically be installed in any location.

Using criteria that took into account existing infrastructure, space, noise, and safety constraints, as well as location and connectivity factors, each community park was put into a weighted matrix for consideration.

This preliminary research identified two potential locations suitable for a 12-court outdoor pickleball complex – Spring Canyon Community Park and Fossil Creek Community Park.

Criteria	Weight	Park Location
		Fossil Creek	Spring Canyon	Edora	City Park	Rolland Moore	Lee Martinez	Twin Silo
Adequate space for complex & amenities	2	X	X
Neighborhood setback for noise reduction	2	X	X		X
Adequate parking capacity	2	X		X		X
Existing restroom facilities nearby	2	X	X				X
Out of floodway	2	X	X	X	X			X
Adequate space for detention	1	X	X
Court orientation	1	X	X		X
Central or service gap location	1	X	X	X
Separation from tennis courts	1	X			X			X
Minimal impact to infrastructure	1	X	X	X		X	X	X
Public transportation	1			X	X	X
Trail connectivity	1	X	X	X		X	X
Totals		16	13	8	7	5	4	4