City of St. Louis, MO

07/18/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/18/2024 11:16

Mayor Jones Opens New Pickleball Courts And Renovated Basketball Courts In Marquette Park

Mayor Jones Opens New Pickleball Courts And Renovated Basketball Courts In Marquette Park

Jones was joined by 3rd Ward Alderman Shane Cohn and others to cut the ribbon on the renovated basketball courts and brand-new pickleball courts

July 18, 2024 | 2 min reading time

Today, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones was joined by 3rd Ward Alderman Shane Cohn, City staff, Allies of Marquette Park, Dutchtown Main Streets, Show Me Peace, and neighborhood residents to cut the ribbon on the renovated basketball courts and brand-new pickleball courts in Marquette Park.

"This is the second week in a row the City of St. Louis is opening free, outdoor sports facilities in one of our City parks," said Mayor Jones. "Giving St. Louisans, and especially our babies, more opportunities to get outside, get active, and have a good time in our 108 parks makes our City stronger, safer, and healthier."

The City upgraded the basketball courts and built the new pickleball courts with funds from the Biden-Harris administration's American Rescue Plan Act. These upgrades signify just one more step in the City's effort to enhance Marquette Park, Dutchtown and south St. Louis.

The Jones administration is investing more than $5 million in neighborhood transformation in and around Marquette Park, including $325,000 to beautify the park and vacant property on Virginia and Alabama avenues, $800,000 for the Neighborhood Plan Implementation that will include a new, artistic fence for the Marquette Park pool, $1.375 million to develop more than 50 affordable homes by rehabilitating six vacant buildings near the park, and $2.9 million to develop a new Family Care health clinic on Grand Boulevard.

Furthermore, the City is currently redesigning 7.8 miles of Grand Boulevard to make it safer for all users, and taking on phase two of the Louisiana Calm Streets project, extending it all the way from Meramec Street to Carondelet Park, making it safer and more enjoyable for residents to travel south St. Louis by car, bike or foot.