The plan to construct the first public facility in Columbus designed for the fastest-growing sport in the United States has changed.

It’s pickleball, and a public-private partnership intended last year to build this project in the park at the Uptown Water Resources Facility, 1820 Third Ave., owned by the Columbus Water Works.

The Ledger-Enquirer reported in September 2023 that CWW would have leased the property to the Columbus Pickleball Association, a nonprofit organization, for $1 per year. Costing an estimated $6-8 million, the project would have produced 25-30 outdoor courts, including 13 covered.

But complications CPA President Lance Tankersley described as “a lot of red tape” prompted the group to look at other sites. Now, CPA has secured a different downtown property to build the facility.

For $625,000, CPA bought from Mike Gill the property at 1641 Third Ave., which comprises a four-story warehouse on 1.98 acres, Tankersley told the Ledger-Enquirer.

That’s where CPA plans to construct 28 outdoor courts, including four under the Second Avenue overpass if the tentative approval from the Georgia Department of Transportation becomes final, Tankersley said. The project will be completed in phases, he said:

Phase 1

Construction is expected to start in the spring and, by the end of summer, create 16 covered outdoor courts.

“But this may change as we get deeper into the design phase of the master plan in the coming weeks,” Tankersley said. “The master plan will eventually lead to construction documents and then to an accurate actual cost. At that time, we will be able to determine how many courts we can build in phase one with the funding we will have at that time.”

The estimated cost for phase one is $3 million, and CPA has raised about $2.9 million, Tankersley said, from a combination of the private donations and the $1.7 million Columbus Council approved in June 2023 from the city’s reserve fund.

Depending how much money CPA has raised and the project’s actual cost by the spring, phase one might be 12 covered courts or 16 courts but not covered, Tankersley said.

“We’re that tight (with the budget),” he said, then added a note of gratitude for the support from generous donors. “It’s been fantastic.”

Lighting will allow matches to be played at night, and fencing will enclose the entire facility.

“We want people to feel safe there,” Tankersley said.

A temporary building, such as a converted shipping container, will provide a check-in area and bathrooms.

“We’re thinking about having another shipping container for a bar and/or something that serves some kind of refreshment,” he said, “like smoothies and take-away sandwiches.”

To make a tax-deductible donation to this project, go to CPA’s website, columbuspba.org, or call Tankersley at 706-315-6049.

When the first phase is completed, Tankersley said, CPA will transfer ownership of that part of the property to CCG, and CPA will operate the facility in a public-private partnership.

Phase 2

A championship-level outdoor court with bleachers to seat 100 to 200 fans and 11 more outdoor courts would be constructed.

The warehouse would be renovated to accommodate a check-in area, pro shop, restrooms, snack area and lounge. Part of the warehouse could be converted into an outdoor deck on one of the upper levels, Tankersley said.

Phase 3

The remaining space in the warehouse could be leased to other developers for a restaurant and additional amenities, Tankersley said.

The need for a pickleball facility in Columbus

If someone wants to play pickleball in Columbus and they don’t belong or aren’t invited to a private country club, the current option is at the city-owned Cooper Creek Tennis Center, where 10 of the 30 tennis courts are used for pickleball at certain times each week.

The nearest public facility dedicated to pickleball is 30 miles away from Columbus, in Opelika, where that east Alabama city has 24 covered courts.

More than 500 people have subscribed to CPA’s emailed newsletter, Tankersley said, 896 people follow CPA’s Facebook group, and 861 people have signed CPA’s online petition at Change.org.

“It’s one of the most social sports,” he said. “It’s excellent for community bonding. … I have made new friends through it, and then there’s the health benefits. A lot of people are getting off the couch and getting into pickleball because it’s so easy to pick up.”

Playing fees

Tankersley expects the fee to play pickleball at this facility to be no more than what CCG charges for tennis at Cooper Creek, which ranges from $3.50 to $5 per hour and offers three-month and annual memberships.

CPA plans to provide a “robust programming schedule” at the pickleball facility, including tournaments, corporate outings and lessons.

As far as parking, Tankersley said, CPA would like to provide four or five spaces per court.

“Still working out where,” he said. “No fee as of yet. Most likely, we’ll work with the city for on-street parking and possibly Second Avenue on either side of the bridge. . . . We also have a verbal agreement with the owner of a few close properties that we could possibly use for parking.”

A benefit for this site, Tankersley said, is that it isn’t surrounded by homes, where residents might complain about the noise and lights from the pickleball facility.

“That’s the beauty of it,” he said. “It’s a city lot that does not interrupt the surroundings. When people play there, they can go to Highside Market, City Mills Hotel, shopping (within walking distance of a half mile or less).”