The Caddo Parish Commission has finally approved the $10 million plan to build a state-of-the-art pickleball complex, a decision that has sparked a city-wide debate in Shreveport. Located near the Ellerbe Road Kroger and YMCA, the planned complex would feature 19 dedicated pickleball courts, including a championship court, and seating for 1,000. Despite the Caddo Parish Commission’s hopes for the future sports complex, locals continue to debate whether it will be a success.
Supporters think the facility will be a worthwhile and needed investment. Pickleball has been one of the fastest-growing sports in recent years, and there is undeniable interest in the Shreveport area, with Bossier City soon to get a private pickleball club as well.
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The Parish’s financial estimations project that the park will pay itself off if it maintains a 40% utilization rate. At $10 an hour rate, the Commission is being cautious with that estimate, and assured there’s no likelihood that other taxpayer services would suffer if their projections are off.
However, many locals remain skeptical. On social media, there seems to be one main complaint: “Why spend this money on pickleball when the roads could use some attention?” Critics are confused as to why millions in tax dollars are being put into courts for a game that still has a relatively small following, when the city still has some streets and roads in need of rehabilitation. Though a quick counterargument to that might be that there’s already so much construction between I-20, the Jimmie Davis Bridge, and the endless random jobs that pop up around the SBC…