By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council approved work to give more places to play pickleball on Tuesday.
"What we're proposing is four courts in the existing Rice Park tennis court facility," said Justin Combs, Director of Parks and Facilities. "We would go in and cut out the asphalt. The asphalt is in really poor condition. The pads would measure 55 feet long by 26 feet wide and pour those to new concrete."
The cost is about $5500 per court, or just under $22,000 for the four proposed with a replacement of the gates for about another $1000, or a total of just less than $23,000.
"These courts will feel like a concrete pad cut into old asphalt," Combs said. "They're not going to feel like a brand new, nice facility. I was trying to meet the immediate need, kind of relieve that pressure that we're feeling to meet this need, but not over invest in a court system that's definitely not going to satisfy the needs. It's always going to feel a little thrown together."
Combs believes that more will need to be done, but it needs to go through the normal process. Since this didn't, they looked for other funding sources.
"The Hutch Rec Foundation was excited about the project," Combs said. "They did offer $3500 in support, matching funds to privately raised funds. The private group, the pickleball community has already raised $1200, so that total support, the $3500 with the match, would be $7000, so then, the cost to the city would be approximately $16,000."
The intent is to look at more courts in future years through the regular budgeting process.