Mayor Tim Keller, City of Albuquerque | City of Albuquerque
Mayor Tim Keller, City of Albuquerque | City of Albuquerque
District 5 Councilor Dan Lewis has addressed the community's concerns about court availability at Ventana Ranch Park in Albuquerque, amid the growing popularity of pickleball. The City is working with the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) to reduce wait times by adding new courts.
"We understand the frustration expressed by pickleball players regarding court availability at Ventana Ranch Park," said Councilor Lewis. "The popularity of pickleball has surged, and we are committed to providing adequate facilities to meet this growing demand."
Currently, the park features 12 tennis courts, six of which are dual-striped for pickleball, allowing for up to 48 players simultaneously. However, peak usage often exceeds this capacity.
To address this issue, PRD is investing nearly $2 million in constructing dedicated pickleball courts at Ventana Ranch Park. This project will add new courts and an administration building. Once completed, there will be 20 dedicated pickleball courts accommodating up to 80 players.
Councilor Lewis reminded players that sharing and rotating play is common practice at most facilities. PRD encourages cooperative rotation to minimize wait times.
"The City made a substantial commitment to the pickleball community on the West Side," emphasized Councilor Lewis. "We are proud that the City will be installing those new state-of-the-art facilities and meeting the needs of our residents."
The additional facilities aim to balance both sports' needs while maintaining six unstriped tennis courts essential for various events and programs. Dual-striped courts do not meet USTA standards and could increase conflicts between sports.
PRD also offers pickleball courts at Sierra Vista and Eagle Ranch, with plans for potential dual-striping at Paradise Skies Park.
"We encourage pickleball players to utilize all available facilities in the West Side area," stated Councilor Lewis. "We also ask for the community's patience and cooperation during the construction phase of the new dedicated pickleball courts."
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