New Pickleball Courts Planned For Community Center

Putnam County Parks and Recreation beginning the planning for six new pickleball courts at the Cookeville Community Center.

The Association of Pickleball Professionals reports a 223 percent increase in participation over the last three years. Putnam Parks and Recreation Director Cody Maynard said that increase being seen in resident requests.

“Pickleball has grown tremendously, probably the fastest growing sport inside of Putnam County,” Maynard said. “It is reaching age groups from young adults into young age. I mean all the way up into the senior class. It is an absolutely huge demand on pickleball.”

When doing measurements for moving the basketball courts that get minimal use, Maynard said he and his team realized they could fit six courts on that space. The project will also see changes made to the existing tennis courts.

“We’ve got one court that’s in pretty rough shape, the structure underneath is going through,” Maynard said. “We’re talking about actually looking at removing one of the center courts and then going through and having the first three courts resurfaced is the goal.”

Maynard said the tennis courts are popular among local players and middle school and high school teams’ practice on them. Maynard said they have tennis players out there from sunrise to sunset.

The search for more pickleball court locations is still on Maynard’s mind.

“Hopefully in the future, with everything, the growth of Putnam County and the way Putnam County continues to grow we look to maybe put additional pickleball courts in a couple of other locations,” Maynard said. “Just as an asset for the community, just to better the quality for the community.”

Plans will be finalized for the courts and the project bid in the next several months, following approval of the county budget.