The Camden County Board of Commissioners and Mayor David Fleisher recently announced eight new pickleball courts at two locations that are expected by fall.
According to a timeline provided by the township, a contract has been awarded and construction will begin in early summer. A similar timeline is anticipated by the county.
The township’s courts will be located on Beechwood Avenue and Route 38 at the Beechwood Park, and the county’s at Challenge Grove Park. Township chief of staff Brian Bauerle said Cherry Hill worked with the county on the additions.
“We coordinated together to find two good locations to multiply the number of courts for pickleball,” he said. “So it was a good partnership.”
While the exact cost of the township courts will not be known until construction goes out to bid, Bauerle predicted it will likely be more than $400,000. The county estimates spending about the same amount.
Denise and John Donald started South Jersey Pickleball in 2012 with 11 members, a number that has since grown to more than 8,000.
“Pickleball is a very addictive sport,” Denise said. “And that’s why we need so many courts. Once you come out and play, you want to play again. And you want to play again and again …
“If you build it, they will come. So it’s just been an amazing thing.”
John noted that the pickleball group has been trying to get more courts built for years.
“We live on the west side, over by the Cherry Hill Mall,” he explained. “So traffic is a nuisance for us. We’re like, ‘When are you going to get single courts on the west side?’ It’s a struggle. Most of their areas are either preserved; you can’t tear up trees and stop.
“This has been years we’ve been waiting for this.”
Fleisher said an existing court in Erlton will be dismantled, in part because of complaints by residents about game noise. A new facility will take its place there.
“We have not received any negative feedback on this,” Fleisher pointed out. “I will say, as a result of this, there is one pickleball court in our Erlton north neighborhood, which we will be pleased to take offline because it has become a nuisance to some residences.
“So this is part of a comprehensive solution delivering additional pickleball facilities to residents and being able to solve a problem that’s been nagging a certain neighborhood.”
Commissioner Colleen Bianco Bezich said in a press release that the county is proud to create the new courts.
“Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country, and is enjoyed by athletes of all ages and skill levels,” she noted. “The board of commissioners are proud to support the creation of these new courts at Challenge Grove, which will increase access to the sport for residents throughout Camden County.”
The new locations will include ADA-accessible pickleball courts with lighting, additional benches, an upgraded parking lot, a new pavilion and a walking path.
