After 5 years, Moab gets its pickleball courts

Barbara Hicks, 75, fell in love with pickleball soon after discovering the game four years ago. She now plays as often as she can — usually three times a week — with a tight-knit group of friends and locals.

Like many players here, she makes do with the old wooden floor of the Center Street Gym or Sun Court, an outdoor basketball court with painted lines, temporary nets and cracks that send the ball bouncing unpredictably. Despite her dedication, Hicks has never played on a purpose-built pickleball surface.

“The thought of playing on a real court in Moab while I can still walk and breathe really thrills me,” she said. “I can’t wait to get out there and just see that ball come over the net on a smooth surface.”

That chance will soon arrive. On Aug. 5, the Grand County Commission voted unanimously to move forward with construction of eight dedicated pickleball courts at the Old Spanish Trail Arena, along with an ADA-accessible playground. A cheer followed the vote, reflecting the excitement of dozens of local players who have attended many meetings to push for the project.

Often described as a mix of tennis, badminton and ping pong, the sport is played on a smaller court with a lightweight plastic ball. It remained the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for the fourth straight year in 2024, with an estimated 19.8 million players, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

Friends of Moab Pickleball, a local nonprofit, counts about 90 people in its group chats, with many more seasonal visitors and traveling players joining games.

“[Getting courts] is life changing for the pickleball community,” Hicks said.

Construction on the courts is expected to begin this fall, according to Dylan Bird, Renner Sports Surfaces chief financial officer. Completion could extend into early next spring, depending on the legal review from the company and where the project fits into its schedule, as court painting can’t be done in cold weather.

Past proposals to build courts at city parks — including Old City Park and Swanny City Park — fell through over resident opposition or cost concerns. The Old Spanish Trail Arena site emerged as the favored location after other options were ruled out, and the project advanced last year when the county secured a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant covering half of the $1.27 million cost for the courts and the playground.

The county’s share, about $636,600, will be reduced by up to $110,000 thanks to a City of Moab contribution to the pickleball courts the city council approved in June.

Earlier this year, the county narrowed bids to two vendors — Renner Sports and Burke Playground — but postponed the May approval to gauge the project’s impact on a tightening budget as tax revenues fell below projections. The Aug. 5 approval is provisional, pending legal review.

“This was something that was a dream come true for most of us to actually have dedicated professional pickleball courts,” Hicks said. “It’s been very emotional – a lot of ups and downs.”

Angie Book, executive director of OSTA, said she’s worked for years to bring courts and a playground to the facility, part of its master plan.

“Grand County doesn’t have these amenities, and they’re in extremely high demand,” she said. “We don’t have a playground this far out of town, and it’s quickly becoming the new center point of town … and I don’t think there goes a day without somebody asking where they can play [pickleball].”

Many local players have urged the county to build dedicated courts during commission meetings this summer, pointing to the sport’s accessibility for all ages, its physical and social benefits and a player base that has grown despite the absence of purpose-built facilities.

“This isn’t just a casual hobby or frivolous,” player Mike Toninelli told commissioners. “It supports physical health, mental health and social connection. For many of us, it’s our lifeline — a way to stay active, engaged and connected to our neighbors.”

Rick Davidson, a Grand County resident who spends winters in Moab and summers in Gunnison, Colorado, said pickleball has been a major source of community connection since he moved to Moab seven years ago.

“We didn’t know a soul when we moved here, but through pickleball we met the most wonderful, welcoming people,” he said.

Longtime advocate Steven Russell said the new facility will make it easier to grow the sport locally and connect Moab to the wider pickleball community.

“We will hold clinics, get the kids involved, get the schools involved … this would be a great place to put on tournaments,” Russell said. “There’s a vast network out there, and people travel all over the place. If you add a pickleball tournament to everything else Moab already offers, I think it would be an immediate draw.”

The pickleball courts will be accompanied by a $679,555 ADA-accessible playground designed by BCI Burke Company. The playground will span roughly 137 by 119 feet, accommodate up to 400 users and serve children ages 2 to 12, according to the company’s proposal. It will feature themed play structures, high-sensory activity areas, ADA-compliant “freedom swings,” intergenerational Konnection Swings, climbing panels, shade structures and a water bottle filling station.

While Book understands why pickleball has received most of the attention, she said she’s equally excited about the playground, which she described as unlike anything else in the area.

“It will be a themed playground, so it’s going to be fun,” Book said. “I think the kids are going to have that moment that they’re going to be like, ‘I want to go to that playground,’ which is cool in a child’s life.”

The playground equipment is expected to arrive about 9–10 weeks after it’s ordered, likely soon, with installation planned to follow, according to Eric Wride, Burke playground specialist.

This story was first published by The Times-Independent.