CPRD Approves Plans for Expanded Pickleball Courts at Jaquith Park

NEWBERG, Ore.—During its August Board of Directors meeting, Chehalem Park and Recreation District (CPRD) approved resurfacing work on the existing tennis facilities, along with the expansion of pickleball facilities at Jaquith Park in summer 2025. 

“As an avid tennis player and user of Jaquith Park, I am happy we were able to work with both the pickleball and tennis communities to find a solution that allows both user groups to be served,” said CPRD Board President Matt Smith. “Our plan is to [eveuntually] have lighted and covered pickleball courts and likely lighted tennis courts, which will be the only such public courts in our area.”

The project includes the construction of six new pickleball courts on the grass lawn east of the existing tennis courts and south of the basketball courts. The horseshoe pits will remain, and the existing tennis courts will be resurfaced. 

CPRD’s Board of Directors approved a contract with NV5 for project design, topographical survey, and handling construction permitting and bidding processes, at a total cost of $77,867. NV5 recently completed work on the masterplan process for Bob and Crystal Rilee Park.

Once the pickleball and tennis court work is completed, Jaquith Park will feature a total of 10 courts that will vary in configuration based on needs. Two courts will be dedicated tennis courts, two others will be dual-purpose courts that serve both tennis and pickleball, and the six new courts will be dedicated pickleball courts. That means the courts can, at any time, serve either four tennis courts and six pickleball courts, or two tennis courts and 12 pickleball courts. 

“Pickleball continues to gain momentum throughout the world for players of all skill levels,” said CPRD Newberg Pickleball Citizens’ Advisory Committee president Mike Kringlen. “Many people like myself plan our vacations to destinations with indoor and outdoor pickleball facilities.”

The project is contingent on the City of Newberg land-use permitting and coincides with CPRD’s plan to add two pickleball courts at Renne Field/Park next summer.

Read about CPRD and Newberg Dundee Public School’s upcoming renovations to Renne Field at Newsberg. 

The recommendation for the additional courts originated from the CPRD Newberg Pickleball Citizens’ Advisory Committee. With the committee members’ three-year terms nearing completion, they are now seeing their efforts come to fruition. 

“We formed the committee in October 2021, but really shifted our focus and energy to pushing for any amount of covered, lit courts in late 2022 and early 2023,” said committee spokesman Nick Konen. “Once the dedicated courts are complete with a cover and lighting, we hope to improve the areas around the courts by providing seating and comfortable waiting areas.”

According to USA Pickleball, there are 161 places to play pickleball in the state of Oregon with a total of 735 courts. Of those, roughly 34% are covered or indoor courts—an important feature in the Willamette Valley, Konen said.  

“Once Phase Two is completed, which is set to include the cover, I feel our recommendations will be fulfilled. Our goal was to recommend a project that will ultimately allow pickleball to be played year-round,” Konen said.

Phase two, which will seek to cover the courts for weather protection, will likely rely on community fundraising efforts, said CPRD Public Information Director Kat Ricker. 

According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), the number of adult Americans who have played pickleball at least once in the past 12 months grew by 35% from 2022 to 2023, reaching a total of 48.3 million people. The same study revealed the average age of pickleball players to be 34.8 years old. 

CPRD Board President Smith also said the potential for local and regional tournaments influenced the decision to approve the court construction and resurfacing. 

“We will be able to host leagues and tournaments for pickleball right here in Newberg,” Smith said. “We will also build new tennis courts which will allow us once again to host tournaments and competitive tennis at a public venue in our community.”

Konen said the Newberg Pickleball Club saw over 480 participants during Spring 2024 events, as well as 20 to 40 players during scheduled matches during the week. 

“The Pickleball Advisory Committee strongly believes in the benefits of pickleball in a community and values the recreational opportunities it provides for all,” he said. We are very thankful to CPRD for moving forward with this plan to eventually allow for pickleball participation year-round.”

For more information on these projects, visit the CPRD website at cprdnewberg.org.