Three New Pickleball Courts Open At Commissioners Park

Press release from Frankfort Park District:

Oct. 5, 2020

The Frankfort Park District is excited to announce the opening of three new Pickleball courts at Commissioners Park. The concrete pad from the former skate park was utilized for the court surface. The project was developed and funded by Operation Playground Foundation. The non-profit Foundation funds park projects within the Frankfort Community that are not in the Park District’s capital budget. The project was slated to be completed in late spring but due to COVID the materials were delayed and then the fence was damaged in the windstorm that occurred this past August. There are still a few good weeks left this season to try out the courts.

Pickleball is a paddleball sport, similar to a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis and can be played by two or four players. The court is badminton-sized with the net set to a height of 34 inches at the center. It is played with a perforated plastic ball, (like a whiffle ball) and composite or wooden paddles about twice the size of ping-pong paddles. It can be played indoors or outdoors and is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players. Pickleball has established a passionate following due to its friendly, social nature, and its multi-generational appeal.

For the past few years, the Park District has offered Pickleball Clinics and open play indoors at the Founders Center Gym which have been extremely popular. The District will be working to set up open nights of play for Pickleball at the outdoor courts and indoors over the winter. In addition to the 3 courts, the adjacent tennis courts at Commissioners Park were power washed and lines were added for Pickleball play. The tennis nets remain at the tennis height but overflow Pickleball players can utilize the tennis courts.

The skate park equipment was removed and will be repurposed at Jackson Creek or at a future location within the park district.

Operation Playground Foundation has funded other projects within the District including the fitness equipment at Michelle Bingham Park, the Judy Herder Pump Track, the basketball court at Main, the Bark Park and the original project that started it all was Fort Frankfort. To learn more about the Foundation, donate or become part of the Board, visit the website at www.opfrankfort.org

This press release was produced by Frankfort Park District. The views expressed here are the author's own.