BRENHAM PARKS & REC BOARD TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE EXPANSION OF PICKLEBALL AT JACKSON STREET PARK
Jackson Street Park in Brenham could potentially be converted into a pickleball complex.
Jackson Street Park.
(courtesy City of Brenham)
On Wednesday, the Brenham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will discuss expanding pickleball facilities at the park. The board will review a preliminary vision plan that includes the repurposing of the park’s basketball courts and addition of new pickleball courts.
In a memo to the board from Public Works Director Dane Rau, he said the local pickleball league has increased from 20 members to over 200 through the past four years, and the sport has surged in popularity both locally and nationally. He said the city has been approached by pickleball advocates with a vision plan consisting of up to four phases of improvements, as well as the possibility of private funds assisting with the expansion of additional courts and amenities.
The six current pickleball courts were repurposed in 2019. The vision plan, which Rau called a “very rough draft,” would increase that number to 22 courts, two of them offering grand stand seating. The complex would be capable of hosting regional and national events capable of drawing participation for tournaments, clinic workshops/camps and community-affiliated activities.
The city is currently working with Burditt Consultants about a phase I improvement project at Jackson Street Park to address aging infrastructure and upgrade elements such as ADA compliance, restrooms, electrical, and newer play areas. The improvements were included in the Brenham Community Development Corporation’s 2023-24 budget at $715,000.
Rau said this agenda item is to get the board’s feedback on expanding pickleball at Jackson Street Park compared to another park, so that if the board chooses to pursue these improvements, they can be included in the city’s agreement with Burditt Consultants to determine a site plan and projected costs.
In other business, the board will act on 2024 rates for parks and recreation facilities and programs. The recommended changes are meant to address rising expenses for maintenance and upkeep, help the city stay competitive with part-time pay, and contribute to the conversion of four softball diamonds at Hohlt Park to turf.
The changes include a resident/non-resident fee schedule for the Blue Bell Aquatic Center, adjusting the carousel fee from $1 per rider per day to $1 per rider each time, and an increase in field and facility rentals. The city is also seeking board feedback regarding rental fees for private usage of pickleball courts and disc golf, as tournament directors have approached the city about hosting tournaments there.
If adopted, the new rates are projected to increase revenue by $35,000 for parks and $85,000 for aquatics.
Following that, board members will go through staff updates.
The board will meet Wednesday at noon in the second-floor conference room at Brenham City Hall.
Click here to view the agenda packet for Wednesday's meeting.
Expansion of the pickle ball courts is a great idea. However, it is not a good idea at all if you are taking away a highly utilized area and sport for another highly enjoyed sport. I live across the street from JSP. Why can’t we advocate for both sports. Change the basketball court and add the other courts, but if and only if you put basketball courts somewhere else in the park b/c they are used just as much as the pickeball courts. There is plenty of room that is not used as much. If you convert the basketball court, then look at the unused soccer fields and convert just one of those into multiple basketball courts. That way everyone can still enjoy the park instead of a set group of people that play and enjoy one sport. To add, if this will be a pickleball complex you will definitely have to look into more parking. No matter what you do with the land, there is not enough parking. I would also like to suggest utilizing the left back corner of the park that hasn’t been used in years into dog parks. Make small and large dog fenced areas. It would require, fencing, and access to water. Please consider everyone that consistently uses this area, not just one hobby that can make money for the town. Both courts are being used equally as much.
Please don’t take away the basketball court at Jackson Park. I have often gone to the park with my grandsons. The basketball court is very popular and used by many people.
I think it would be a huge mistake to remove the basketball court at Jackson Street Park, it is heavily utilized. In fact, I would argue that an additional basketball court could be built there due to the heavy utilization of the current one. JSP has a lot of open land and there is definitely room for another basketball court and plenty of pickle ball courts. However, despite the 90-100 parking spots already there, if the plan is to host pickleball events, more parking will be needed.
Please don’t take these basketball courts away from the many, many kids (including mine and his friends) and adults who use them! I have nothing against pickleball, but please find a different location to build new courts. It’s not fair to take someone else’s recreation area away!
Adding this many courts with no plan for additional parking is asinine at best. Taking away the basketball courts, that have been busy for since they were built, also makes no sense. How many acres of under-utilized land is there elsewhere in the park?
There are over 100 parking spots at JSP and Charles Lewis and Tom Green plus Jackson St. have curb parking. Plus on tournament days not all contestants are on site at any one time they come and go. As for basketball Blinn removed a dorm and land is not being used put new courts there closer to campus.
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Why is it strictly Blinns responsibility to supply basketball courts when the courts are not exclusively used by Blinn students? Also, I am sure that most parents would not feel comfortable with their minor children walking down Jackson Street (with its lack of sidewalks and traffic) in order to play on a basketball court “closer to Blinn”. Our local parks are in place for the local residents to have access to, not for a small group of individuals who feel that their desire to play one particular sport trumps everyone else. If there is a need for pickleball expansion, why not place it in a industrial area, away from our homes and children. Why would anyone feel that this type of expansion is wise in a residential neighborhood? The parking expansion is just part of this insanity. What about the extra traffic through our neighborhood? The excess noise from the increase in players and spectators at events? What about the illumination from the lights needed for 20 courts? What about the trash left over after tournaments? We did not anticipate living next to a sports complex when we purchased our homes. I wonder if you would be as excited if you were forced to live next door to this monstrosity.
Just because it is YOUR hobby doesn’t mean it’s everyone else’s responsibility to pay for it at the expense of taxpayer dollars and shared space.
Nobody wants to take our kids to a Blinn court and be harassed by older kids from out of town just watch the crime rate the first few weeks of Blinn school year.
I think the people running city of Brenham are all Loco in the head. Really this is how they want to spend OUR TAX MONEY. The County officials are just as bad. I’m really thinking of moving outside this county.
Can’t keep a school superintendent or fire chief, but we’ve got PICKLEBALL
There is plenty of room to expand on that property but not sure if that many more are needed. Please do not take away the basketball court, Blinn students as well as local residents have enjoyed that court for years. Yes their are courts located on MLK Jr. Parkway just miles from there but that is a busy street with no parking. I can agree to most comments above on the the years of service for pickleball as well as tennis courts being a forever sport.
They just seal coated the basketball & thistle courts, at what expense?
Go to the meeting and voice your thoughts.
Pickleball is a baby boomer fad. It will be dead or back to being a fringe sport in less than 10 years. Leave it alone or replace the tennis courts you took in the first place.
If you came to tge Court’s and saw all the young boys and girls men and women playing your eyes would see the future of pickleball. I started 4 years ago and Court’s were used mainly Tuesday,Thursday and Sunday. Now Court’s are being used 6 to 7 days a week and yes there is a group of us older generation that play and socialize every club night and onither that plays on mornings also with younger generation players side by side with us enjoying this sport.
What about TENNIS courts? School competition is limited due to the lack of tennis courts in Brenham and school district…Blinn courts were demolished. Jackson Street courts are pickleball…geared away from student competitions. Tennis is a lifetime sport. To consider eliminating the Jackson Street basketball courts is a slap at the youth, and especially Blinn students. An entirely new park system is being developed…why not build a pickleball complex there with easy highway access?
More money more money Make the league pay for the courts. Make the city build news ones amd they play for free on it that doesn’t work
We do pay for court usage on club nights. Parks and Recreation looking at various types of funding NOT JUST TAX DOLLARS.
Please don’t take away the basketball courts. The high school age kids love them and those are there aren’t any at hohlt or fireman’s park.
I totally agree. Do not remove the basketball courts. They are used and enjoyed by locals.
But as a resident on Jackson St, I am concerned about the additional traffic and street parking that these additional courts will bring to our neighborhood. We already have traffic speeding down the street. It will only get worse with these additions.
Just move them with the number of kids using them you need more anyway so get Blinn to build where they took down a dorm room for 4 to 6 courts.
Please do renovate the Jackson Street park. The bathrooms are neglected. But there are many boys who enjoy basketball year round there. Please be sure to keep two courts somewhere for them! Jackson Street park is definitely the park to focus on.
Great opportunity to bring more and better tournaments to Brenham and increased revenue for the city. Pickleball is exploding locally with 26 courts in Navasota 8 in Bellville 6 New in Sealy and New courts going into Bryan/College Station. We are central from Austin, San Antonio Houston Conroe/ Woodlands. Austin is home for top players in the world and host professional teams. If you pay attention our courts are utilizing almost 7 days a week with play scheduled every day of week. Hope we can get this done.
Will other basketball courts be built? So many people play and love to watch their children play there. I am normally in favor for expansion and improvement as long as it doesn’t take away from the people currently using the land/objects.