Boulder to add dedicated pickleball courts at Tom Watson Park

Pickleball is a sport that is growing in popularity and venues are in high demand. With the planning stage now complete and the design stage in progress, Tom Watson Park will soon be home to eight pickleball courts and four new tennis courts.

Boulder Parks and Recreation (BPR) is responding to the surging popularity of pickleball with plans to construct the new courts at Tom Watson Park on North 63rd Street across from Coot Lake, part of a multi-year strategy to expand the city's racket sports facilities. The project, slated for completion by the end of 2025, according to the city’s website, represents just one component of a comprehensive plan to address unprecedented growth in tennis and pickleball participation over the past five years.

The Tom Watson Park site was originally part of the IBM manufacturing site at the intersection of CO 52 and CO 119 built in the 1960s. The City of Boulder obtained an easement for Tom Watson Park when the site was annexed into the city in 1997.

The addition of the pickleball courts comes as part of a comprehensive development initiative identified in the Boulder Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan, which highlighted the need for dedicated pickleball facilities throughout the city. The location was strategically chosen for its minimal impact on neighboring residents and potential for rapid development.

The expansion aligns with a broader $2.4 million investment strategy, with BPR committing $400,000 annually over the next six years to enhance court playability and reduce long-term maintenance costs. The department's master plan calls for adding 22 dedicated tennis courts and 22 dedicated pickleball courts across the city.

The recent loss of 15 tennis courts as part of the Millennium Harvest House Hotel to make room for student housing has left tennis enthusiasts with few options. An effort to construct a private tennis facility on 79th Street in Gunbarrel was met with substantial community opposition, and was ultimately abandoned.

According to the city’s plan, Tom Watson Park provides an ideal opportunity to quickly address the community's need for dedicated pickleball courts while alleviating pressure on the city’s existing multi-sport facilities. The four new tennis courts will complement the park's four existing tennis courts, creating a destination for racket sports enthusiasts.

Other planned improvements at Tom Watson Park, to be finalized as funding is confirmed, include new amenities such as restrooms, a shade shelter, and a food court. The project will also feature a play area, improved walkways for better accessibility, and parking lot resurfacing, pending final funding confirmation.

The city reported that developments will adhere to the City of Boulder's Community Sustainability, Equity and Resilience Framework and the 2022 BPR Department Plan. The department is also exploring innovative solutions to expand year-round play opportunities, including the potential construction of a temporary indoor facility at East Boulder Community Park in 2025.

Community support is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing the facility's features. The PLAY Boulder Foundation has stepped forward to support the development, which they envision as a "state-of-the-art public pickleball facility." The foundation is actively seeking public contributions to fund additional amenities such as benches, picnic tables, and drinking fountains to create a more comfortable and user-friendly environment.

The project is currently in the design phase, with planning officials working alongside consultants to finalize the court layouts. This development phase includes consideration of programming, reservation systems, and maintenance improvements, based on recommendations from the PROS Consulting Team's assessment.