The City of Battle Ground celebrated the completion of its new pickleball facility with an unpunctual ribbon-cutting ceremony and kickoff match on Tuesday, Aug. 5.
Located in the southeast corner of the park, the area features six courts, a sound barrier and a metal roof. The facility officially opened July 2, but the city postponed the formal ceremony to ensure key participants could attend.
“This is quite the investment in our community, I think all accounts [are] excited to put some funds towards some nice stuff in Battle Ground,” Battle Ground Mayor Troy McCoy said. “It’s a nice first step.”
For the kickoff match, Battle Ground Police Chief Dennis Flynn and Clark County Fire District 3 Chief Chris Drone, the Yellow Team, faced McCoy and City Manager Kris Swanson on the Blue Team. Yellow took the win 11-8.
“I mean, we had to let [them] win,” McCoy laughed. “I mean, they do have the life-saving equipment and the guns, but I think the rematch will go differently.”
McCoy, who did not practice for his first-ever pickleball match on Tuesday, said he found the sport to be enjoyable and easy for beginners. The mayor plans to continue the sport occasionally.
“I think we’ll be out here. It’s a low-entry game as far as skill, obviously, if I can play it,” McCoy said. [For] equipment you need a paddle and a ball and there’s people here that will loan you a paddle.”
Despite McCoy and the city council’s lack of pickleball experience, the Mayor said the courts have been a worthy community investment.
“You see all ages out here. I saw some grade school high schoolers out here and senior citizens, so I think it’s all right,” he said.
While most feedback has been positive, according to the Mayor, some residents living near the park have expressed concerns about noise. Despite the presence of a sound wall, park neighbors have complained to the City Council that the noise has driven them from their backyards, with some claiming to hear games well past the 9 p.m. closing time.
“Anytime you bring something new in, change, you know, some people just don’t like change. We’ve tried to mitigate the sound with the wall,” McCoy said. “I think there are still some things we can do, we’re learning and we listen to the citizens and try to mitigate their issues.”
When asked, McCoy said the city is considering implementing a time-lock system to prevent early morning activities.
“We’re looking at like time-locks or something along those lines to prevent people from getting here at 4:30, and starting to play pickleball,” McCoy said. “I’m not so worried about midnight pickle ball as I am 4 a.m. pickle ball … but for the most part, pickle ball users, I think, are very respectful, and I think they will observe the rules.”
McCoy hopes the facility serves residents for years to come.
It’s exciting to bring new things to Battle Ground. For a long time, you know, I said, you know, why can’t Battle Ground have nice things and so we’re starting to see that. We’re starting to really invest in our parks, in our amenities and in our roads. So this is just one part of it, you know, I’m excited people are excited. That’s what makes doing this gig tolerable.”
