Chicago Park District, Alderman Cut the Ribbon on the New Pickleball and Tennis Courts in Shabbona Park

Park District expects to have 200 pickleball courts in parks across the city by the end of 2025!

Today at 6pm, Chicago Park District General Superintendent & CEO Rosa Escareño joins 38th Ward Alderman Nicholas Sposato to cut the ribbon on the new pickleball and newly rehabbed tennis courts at Shabbona Park, 6935 W. Addison. The project is part of "Pickleball Mania", the Park District's response to the growing popularity of the sport and demand for courts across the city.

"These incredible new and rehabbed courts provide residents with the best of both worlds," said Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño. "While tennis is a long-time local favorite here, pickleball is growing rapidly in popularity among neighboring residents here as it is across the city and the country. Now these beloved sports can take place simultaneously at Shabbona Park. We appreciate the input from community stakeholders and look forward to continuing our work here in Dunning and communities across the city, to make these resources accessible and enjoyable."

The project features the conversion of five existing tennis courts into four new pickleball courts and three rehabbed tennis courts. The scope of the work includes court surfacing and striping, new nets, posts and fencing. The project was completed in accordance with the specifications established by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) and US Tennis Association (USTA).

"We are so excited to for the community to have a new Pickleball court at Shabbona Park. As a park that has a large demand for pickleball this new court is much needed and greatly appreciated. We thank the Park District for their work and look forward to partnering with them on future projects," said Alderman Nicholas Sposato, 38th ward.

In 2022, the Park District announced "Pickleball Mania", an ambitious commitment to construct 50 new pickleball courts throughout the city by 2025, which would bring the total number of park district courts to more than 100, putting Chicago in line with other cities across the country that are meeting the growing popularity of the sport and demand for pickleball courts. One year later, the District announced that "Pickleball Mania" will far exceed expectations and is on track to complete even more courts, bringing the number of pickleball courts to 200 by the end of 2025.

The new pickleball courts are funded by the City's Chicago Recovery Plan (CRP) which earmarks dollars for neighborhood park improvements.