Owensboro Parks and Recreation partners with River City Pickleball Club to bring new facility to Ben Hawes

Owensboro Parks and Recreation is partnering with the River City Pickleball Club (RCPC) to build a state-of-the-art outdoor pickleball facility in Ben Hawes. Parks and Recreation has committed $1 million toward the project, while the RCPC will contribute at least $500,000.

The two groups are currently reviewing initial conceptual site plans from Lose Design, which is also undertaking the renovation of English Park, and expect to have completed renderings after a meeting next Thursday.

Once this happens, RCPC has the green light to begin fundraising.

“I have complete confidence in the club and its ability to raise the necessary funds,” said Amanda Rogers, director of parks and recreation. “We look forward to our meeting next week to assess our progress and envision the end result.”

Rogers added that they will likely take the construction process in phases, making sure each phase is satisfactory on its own and not dependent on the next phase. She said the wish list is long and she wants to make sure they are being fiscally responsible with taxpayers’ money.

“There’s no doubt there’s a need,” Rogers said. “This sport has been successful in warmer climates for years and is growing rapidly across the country. It’s amazing how quickly the local club has grown in just a few years. I don’t see the sport slowing down any time soon.”

In a kick-off meeting with Parks and Rec. and Lose, RCPC President Alex Ross and other club members urged the company to create a state-of-the-art facility that would bring pride to local players and become a “beacon of pickleball for the region.”

“We want this to be a fun facility whether you’re playing or not,” Ross said. “You spend a lot of time on the court waiting for a game or just hanging out and chatting, and we want that experience to be fun, too. We focused on gathering areas, shade structures and other elements that would enhance the overall experience.”

The facility is expected to include between 14 and 20 courts, two of which will be championship courts. There are plans for a plaza, practice wall, parking for food trucks, spectator dressing, branding walls and more.

There are currently four public pickleball courts in the county: York Park, six Yellow Creek Park and three Standley. There are also courts at Owensboro Country Club and the Pearl Club, as well as some temporary courts at Center Court.

When Ross took over as president last year, he said there were 250 members. Now that number has risen to 550, and he said they are struggling to keep up with demand.

“We want to be able to host tournaments and have a facility for our recreational leagues and regional and intramural events,” he said. “There are simply not enough spaces to accommodate the large number of players. And the social heart of the sport is being lost because they are spread out all over the city.”

RCPC and Owensboro Parks and Recreation are excited to offer a central location for pickleball fans, from beginners and amateurs to top amateurs and professionals.