News updates are sent daily. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Vote allows pickleball at one Chandler court
Digg|
Save|
License|
Print|
E-mail|
Sean Paulson returns a shot from Tyrone Allen during a demonstration of a pickelball game.
Tribune
Pickleball supporters scored a partial victory Tuesday when Chandler parks officials approved the addition of stripes for the sport to one of Apache Park's four tennis courts.
The height of the net would not be changed, and the court still would be available to tennis players, said Dave McDowell, assistant community services director.
"Our thought is that it won't be over $500," McDowell said.
City staff had recommended that the Parks and Recreation Board reject a proposal to convert half of the park's four existing tennis courts to pickleball. Officials have said was expected to cost about $6,000.
Chandler may convert courts for pickleball
Pickleball has been described as a combination of pingpong, badminton and tennis. The game involves the use of wooden paddles to bat a perforated plastic ball back and forth across a low net on a badminton-sized court. The game, named after the dog of one of the co-inventors, was created in Seattle in 1965.
Sun Lakes resident Patsy Shell, with the support of the Sun Lakes Pickleball Club, requested the addition of pickelball to Apache Park. The park sits southwest of Knox Road and Hartford Street in north Chandler.
Mickey Ohland, city parks development and operations manager, said turnout was scarce at a recent public meeting about the proposal.
"There just wasn't an overwhelming interest or need that we saw," he said.
The economic downturn has slashed city revenue and is forcing Chandler to reconsider its priorities in terms of parks, Ohland said.
Please add your comments, but follow these guidelines to keep this a safe, credible place for discussing the news: