Parks and Recreation Court System Plan finalized, recommends investment in new and existing courts

The demand for tennis and pickleball courts has grown significantly in the past few years and Boulder Parks and Recreation (BPR) recognizes the changing court supply in the city. BPR recently finalized a Court System Plan that analyzed and evaluated the city's racket sport courts and made recommendations and identified potential opportunities in the short- and long-term.

Since October 2023, the city talked with the community and collected data, evaluated options, and communicated possible recommendations. We learned that our racket sport community wants:

• existing courts to be renovated and maintained
• additional dedicated outdoor courts for tennis and new dedicated pickleball courts
• noise impacts from pickleball on neighbors to be managed
• an indoor facility

City staff and consultants evaluated our current court inventory, reservation utilization, and programs and services. Consultants conducted a market analysis and researched industry standards for the number of courts a community should have and what percentage of the current population plays tennis and/or pickleball.

Through this research BPR staff learned that the percentage of Boulder's population that plays tennis and pickleball is higher than the national average.

The key recommendations of the Court System Plan for the next 5-10 years are:

• BPR should continue the asset management approach by investing $400,000 per year over the next six years to improve playability on existing courts and reduce long-term maintenance costs
• BPR should develop additional outdoor courts as funding and capacity allow. The recommended additions are 22 additional dedicated tennis courts and 22 dedicated pickleball courts. The most suitable sites for future racquet sport courts are:
  • East Boulder Community Park
  • Harlow Platts Community Park (South Boulder Recreation Center)
  • Valmont City Park
  • Tom Watson Park
  • Stazio Ballfields
  • Foothills Community Park
• BPR should further evaluate potential partnerships to better understand indoor facility opportunities.
• BPR should pursue programming, reservation, and maintenance improvements.

- Read the full Court System Plan PDF

Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in renovations to existing courts in our system. Staff will also evaluate funding, capacity and timelines for constructing new courts and finalizing site designs at East Boulder Community Park, Valmont City Park and Tom Watson.

As part of BPR's Future of Recreation Centers project, we will engage our community broadly to explore how interest in an indoor racquet sport facility relates to and balances with other community priorities for indoor recreation activities.

Thanks to Boulder Tennis Association, BOCO Pickleball, and all in our community who engaged in the process for the Court System Plan.

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