Pickleball court in Roanoke? City to seek grant for upgrade of outdoor basketball courts at recreation center
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The outdoor basketball courts at the Roanoke recreation center may be getting an upgrade soon.
Roanoke Mayor Adam Melton plans to seek a grant for as much as $75,000 that the city would use to renovate the outdoor basketball courts at the recreation center on West Point Street.
The need for the upgrade has become more pressing in recent weeks after an after-hours shooting took place near the courts less than two weeks ago – the second such incident this year.
It’s also a response to a request from a citizen group earlier this year asking the city to consider building a pickleball court for public use. The sport has become popular, and players currently have to find courts outside the city to play.
The most recent shooting at the court took place after several residents snuck under the fence while the gate was locked on a Saturday night after the courts were closed. This is a frequent occurrence as evidenced by the fact that the fence is bent upward from the ground from repeated entries.
While temporary patches and other deterrents are put in place, the long-term solution is to replace the entire fence around the courts. People familiar with the facility say that the fence has not been replaced in as long as 60 years.
The court used to be two tennis courts, but was retro-fitted for basketball when four hoops were installed and the tennis nets were removed. But the popularity of pickleball among a wide array of age groups has the city looking at a way to incorporate a court for that sport into any future renovation. A multi-use pickleball/basketball court is considered the ideal solution.
The confluence of the need for greater security and the demand for pickleball was on Melton’s mind when Innovate Alabama contacted the city about applying for a grant. The city previously was awarded an Innovate Alabama grant in 2024, which it used to install security cameras at various sites throughout the city.
Melton asked for and received approval from the city council at Monday’s meeting to move forward with the grant application.
