Cookeville leaders celebrated the completion of eight new pickleball courts at Cane Creek Park Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting.
Construction of the pickleball courts took several months to complete due to soil issues. City Manager James Mills said it was great to finally see the project completed.
“It’s very exciting,” Mills said. “There was some question marks there with all of the rain we had back in the spring about when we would ever finish it. Never was if but when. It took several more months than we had hoped, but we are glad to finally be at the finish line.”
Mills said residents have been asking for more pickleball courts for the past few years. Mayor Laurin Wheaton said the state-of-the-art courts will bring more people out to Cane Creek Park.
“This was not just pouring down some concrete and painting some lines,” Wheaton said. “This was done with the help of the pickleball community to make sure they are regulation, that we can have tournaments and things like that. And again, it just creates another thing in our wonderful Cane Creek Park, which I already love, but another activity young and old can do and have a good time doing it.”
Ironically enough, it was raining during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Mills said even though it took longer than expected, he is pleased with how the courts turned out.
“We put our pickleball courts up against anybody,” Mills said. “You can see by today’s turnout, with all of the pickleball enthusiasts that are here, that it is a nice product.”
Former Cookeville Leisure Services Director Rick Woods played a major role in making the pickleball courts happen. Woods said he hopes the community enjoys the new courts.
“I look forward to watching you play sometime, maybe not today, but sometime soon,” Woods said. “And I’m honored to be here and appreciative of the opportunity to come and participate in this today.”
Wheaton said the new pickleball courts prove that the city does listen to the community. Despite the rain making the courts wet, several residents immediately began playing on the new courts.
