Pickleball players enjoy new courts at grand opening

SANDPOINT — More than 25 local players showed up to christen the three new pickleball courts during a grand opening event at Lakeview Park, replete with plenty of action and a toast of sparkling cider to commemorate the occasion.

The Lakeside Pickleball Courts are now officially open for play, but you’ll need to bring your own nets and equipment at this point. The fast-growing sport has a strong contingent of local players, 89 of whom belong to the Panhandle Pickleball Club and play all over Bonner County.

“It was a rousing success,” claimed Leslie Wright, a USAPA Pickleball Ambassador and one of the aforementioned locals. “It is a lovely spot there on the lake, the courts are great and there is refreshing shade outside the fence on one side under the trees. Now we have three courts on which to play our beloved game.”

The courts have visible red lines and plenty of room around each court, thanks to Jim Hagler’s design and efforts while working with Kim Woodruff at the city of Sandpoint. The group toasted Hagler and his three-year effort on Sunday with some sparkling cider.

The courts are tucked back past the boat launch at Memorial Field and the tennis courts at Lakeview Park. The fenced in basketball court, which was rarely ever used, proved to be the perfect venue for pickleball. There are still two basketball hoops with the lines painted in white, so as not interfere with the pickleball lines.

There are no formal court times set up, so bring a net and a friend or three and you are all set. There is also open play on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to noon at Clark Fork High School, free play Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. at the SWAC, and open play Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at CFHS.