Pickleball in, Tennis Out at City Racquet Center

The growth of pickleball—and perhaps the death knell of public tennis on Marco Island—came a step closer to reality at the Tuesday, September 5, city council meeting. Council has given the order to convert two tennis courts at the city’s Racquet Center into eight pickleball courts. The move is Phase 1 of a two-phase plan that will eliminate tennis at the Racquet Center and dedicate the entire facility to pickleball. Once this project is complete, the City of Marco Island will have no public tennis courts.

Parks and Recreation Committee member Doug Kelly says it something that needs to happen immediately.

"City Council recommended that they convert courts seven and eight as soon as we can,” said PRAC’s Doug Kelly. "My understanding is it's in the budget now. Coming for next year. Get done maybe next summer. Going out to bid soon is what I've been told.”

Kelly looks forward to seeing the entire park converted to pickleball. “For the long term,” Kelly said, "the other courts and new buildings and more parking, they're going to the county for a grant, I guess is what it would be called. See if they can get matching funds because it's an expensive project.”

PRAC had recommended doing the entire project at once. "We were hoping they would do it all at once,” Kelly said. "Except we need these eight courts immediately. And now that they're going for the county's help and funding, I mean, it makes sense to do it this way. It's taking care of the immediate need--or helping with the immediate need.” 

The Racket Center still has a huge waiting list for pickleball memberships. The City of Marco Island is in the process of verifying that wait list. 

In addition,  there are 400 pickleball members and currently,  80 tennis members.