City council moves pickleball onto it’s priority list. After multiple visits from the well-established pickleball group in Susanville, the council considered the addition to take the initial steps to consider bringing a set of courts for what has been named the fastest-growing sport in the nation by The Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
Those advocating for the courts urged the council to consider using its ARPA, COVID relief funds to either resurface the courts at Memorial Park or build an entirely new set of courts in their own location within the city.
Advocates also highlighted the economic development pickleball courts could bring to the city as they would welcome players from around the region to stay and play in Susanville as well as open the doors to possibly hosting tournaments. City Administrator Dan Newton says while the city has new revenue sources and ARPA funds to expend, he cautioned that considering the city’s history of running a deficit, money is precious; he suggested taking smaller steps that council and staff can achieve.
The council unanimously agreed they would like to see Pickleball come to the city but agreed with Newton to place it on the priority list with smaller more attainable goals. Within the next few months, city staff will come back to the council with a report on a preliminary plan and estimated costs after collaborating with a Pickleball representative and identifying potential solutions.
Photo by Brendan Sapp on Unsplash
