Rockport Pickleball created this petition to be delivered to the City of Rockport.
Pickleball has become the fastest growing sport in America, and it is time that Aransas County residents, Winter Texans and visitors have dedicated pickleball courts.
Currently, there are only two public places to play Pickleball in Aransas County: Rockport-Fulton High School Tennis Courts and Tiger Field basketball court. Neither of the facilities are dedicated to Pickleball. At Tiger Field, there are two pickleball courts painted, but there is no fence or windscreen which makes it almost impossible to play unless there is no breeze. Not to mention, two courts is hardly enough with the amount of players we have. We are also only allowed to use the facility when children are not there using it. Then at R-F High School, the preferred place to play, we are allowed to mark 8 Pickleball courts, with chalk, on the schools old tennis courts (we are not allowed to use the newly built courts). The old courts are not maintained and in need of resurfacing and the fencing is damaged making it hard to keep the play going since we have to chase balls all the way to the other end of a tennis court. The school does not use these courts and they are designated as "public", since the only tennis court in the city was removed at Memorial Park several years ago.
We are requesting that a new Pickleball complex be funded by Texas Parks and Wildlife Recreation Grant. This program provides 50% matching grants on a reimbursement basis. All grant assisted sites must be dedicated as parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained and open to the public. The grants are currently set at $150,000 for a Local Park Small Community. The feasibility study needs to be approved by November to give us adequate time to be in next year's RGO grant.
This facility shall be run by a parks and recreation department but Rockport Pickleball Group is here to help organize and create a program for everyone. We hope to have a designated schedule for Beginners, Clinics, Women Only, Advanced and Open Play including anyone who would like to show up.
Another option is for the city to take ownership of the old RF High Tennis courts on the corner of Enterprise and Stadium Drives. Even if it is just court 5. Let us have that one single tennis court at the end so we can make 4 permanent Pickleball courts. This is the least expensive and best option right now. And if not there, let's get this built elsewhere, granted at a higher financial cost.
PLEASE SIGN and explain why you want dedicated Pickleball courts here! Please attend City Council or Parks and Recreation meetings and write letters to the editor of the The Rockport Pilot.
Join our group on Facebook. Rockport Pickleball
Let's DO IT!
Thank you.
Michelle Eggimann
USAPA Pickleball Ambassador
361-729-1112
Updates
March 16, 2020
Reaching this level of support confirms that I am not the only one frustrated by the lack of decent courts in our town. The process is exhausting and the path forward remains long but seeing this turnout provides the fuel to keep pushing the city for a real facility.
67 Comments
It would give active seniors another option for exercise in Rockport area. It could also help the area economically as many people choose an area to stay where they have the option to play pickleball. With a complex it would be possible to host tournaments and that means money coming to the Rockport area.
As 4 month winter Texans and owners of a Rockport condo we need pickleball facilities for personal health and as an attraction for potential renters. Pickleball is most attractive to active adults and seniors who make up most of the winter tourist population.
My husband and I are winter Texans and avid pickleball players. We own a condo in Rockport, and really enjoy playing here as opposed to going into Port Aransas or Corpus Christi. There is a large group of players here, and several well maintained, dedicated pickleball courts would be a real asset to this community.
Pickleball is a great way for all ages to get off the couch and get active. Please do not force us to have to play in Corpus. On our trip there we can eat out and shop but we would rather keep our spending in Rockport.
I live at 990 State Hwy 35 Bypass in Rockport. I am a business owner and avid pickleball player. I am the local Ambassador for the USAPA.
We are going to be winter texans this year. Staying in a RV Resort in Rockport and a large reasons was access to pickle ball courts. I am a board member of our community center in Eureka Springs, AR and pickle ball is a huge part of our recreation opportunity and plan to expand our current 3 courts. Great investment into your community.
It will bring more people to the area
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Rockport Pickleball created this petition to be delivered to the City of Rockport.
Pickleball has become the fastest growing sport in America, and it is time that Aransas County residents, Winter Texans and visitors have dedicated pickleball courts.
Currently, there are only two public places to play Pickleball in Aransas County: Rockport-Fulton High School Tennis Courts and Tiger Field basketball court. Neither of the facilities are dedicated to Pickleball. At Tiger Field, there are two pickleball courts painted, but there is no fence or windscreen which makes it almost impossible to play unless there is no breeze. Not to mention, two courts is hardly enough with the amount of players we have. We are also only allowed to use the facility when children are not there using it. Then at R-F High School, the preferred place to play, we are allowed to mark 8 Pickleball courts, with chalk, on the schools old tennis courts (we are not allowed to use the newly built courts). The old courts are not maintained and in need of resurfacing and the fencing is damaged making it hard to keep the play going since we have to chase balls all the way to the other end of a tennis court. The school does not use these courts and they are designated as "public", since the only tennis court in the city was removed at Memorial Park several years ago.
We are requesting that a new Pickleball complex be funded by Texas Parks and Wildlife Recreation Grant. This program provides 50% matching grants on a reimbursement basis. All grant assisted sites must be dedicated as parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained and open to the public. The grants are currently set at $150,000 for a Local Park Small Community. The feasibility study needs to be approved by November to give us adequate time to be in next year's RGO grant.
This facility shall be run by a parks and recreation department but Rockport Pickleball Group is here to help organize and create a program for everyone. We hope to have a designated schedule for Beginners, Clinics, Women Only, Advanced and Open Play including anyone who would like to show up.
Another option is for the city to take ownership of the old RF High Tennis courts on the corner of Enterprise and Stadium Drives. Even if it is just court 5. Let us have that one single tennis court at the end so we can make 4 permanent Pickleball courts. This is the least expensive and best option right now. And if not there, let's get this built elsewhere, granted at a higher financial cost.
PLEASE SIGN and explain why you want dedicated Pickleball courts here! Please attend City Council or Parks and Recreation meetings and write letters to the editor of the The Rockport Pilot.
Join our group on Facebook. Rockport Pickleball
Let's DO IT!
Thank you.
Michelle Eggimann
USAPA Pickleball Ambassador
361-729-1112
Updates
March 16, 2020
Reaching this level of support confirms that I am not the only one frustrated by the lack of decent courts in our town. The process is exhausting and the path forward remains long but seeing this turnout provides the fuel to keep pushing the city for a real facility.
67 Comments
Last week there were easily 35 plus pickleball players trying to play on the high school courts, please dedicate a minimum of 3-4 pickleball courts in the immediate future!! Thanks
It would give active seniors another option for exercise in Rockport area. It could also help the area economically as many people choose an area to stay where they have the option to play pickleball. With a complex it would be possible to host tournaments and that means money coming to the Rockport area.
As 4 month winter Texans and owners of a Rockport condo we need pickleball facilities for personal health and as an attraction for potential renters. Pickleball is most attractive to active adults and seniors who make up most of the winter tourist population.
My husband and I are winter Texans and avid pickleball players. We own a condo in Rockport, and really enjoy playing here as opposed to going into Port Aransas or Corpus Christi. There is a large group of players here, and several well maintained, dedicated pickleball courts would be a real asset to this community.
Pickleball is a great way for all ages to get off the couch and get active. Please do not force us to have to play in Corpus. On our trip there we can eat out and shop but we would rather keep our spending in Rockport.
I live at 990 State Hwy 35 Bypass in Rockport. I am a business owner and avid pickleball player. I am the local Ambassador for the USAPA.
We are going to be winter texans this year. Staying in a RV Resort in Rockport and a large reasons was access to pickle ball courts. I am a board member of our community center in Eureka Springs, AR and pickle ball is a huge part of our recreation opportunity and plan to expand our current 3 courts. Great investment into your community.
It will bring more people to the area
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Last week there were easily 35 plus pickleball players trying to play on the high school courts, please dedicate a minimum of 3-4 pickleball courts in the immediate future!! Thanks