SEQUIM — Plans to install eight tournament-quality pickleball courts in Carrie Blake Park in Sequim by year’s end have been pushed into 2018.
Charlie Pugh, vice president for the Sequim Picklers, said due to topography challenges of the site, some civil engineering work is required to estimate the cut-and-fill requirements to produce a flat site for the courts.
Earlier this year, members of the Sequim Picklers and its Pickleball Facility Committee were optimistic that the new courts would be in as early as August. They are to be built to the east of the Sequim Skate Park and next to the planned new entrance to Carrie Blake Park next to Trinity United Methodist Church.
Pugh said city staff agreed to perform the needed engineering work but that a civil engineer won’t be free until late fall.
“For that reason, there will be a short delay in getting the courts built, but we expect them to be completed now by April 2018,” he said.
Members of the Sequim Picklers said working with the city delays the project but saves the group upward of $25,000.
The group reached its goal to raise $196,000 for court construction earlier this year.
Efforts to build dedicated pickleball courts started in December 2014 with the formation of the Sequim Picklers’ facility’s committee.
Later, the group partnered with the city of Sequim, which provided $51,000 and court space; Sequim Family Advocates to fundraise under its 501(c)(3) umbrella; the Albert Haller Foundation, which provided $10,000; the Myrtle Walkling Foundation $2,000; and multiple businesses, groups and residents to raise funds.
Clallam County commissioners also approved $34,000 from the lodging tax fund earlier this year as well.
Pickleball players currently play at Sequim Community School’s basketball courts along Third Avenue and Fir Street and in the Sequim unit of the Boys &Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, 400 W. Fir St., during the winter.
For more information on the Sequim Picklers, visit www.sequimpicklers.net.
