Presenting
“PROJECT PICKLE” City Council to Vote on Indoor-Sports Facility Proposal by Darien Hardy
D
id you know that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in
United States? For those of you who are unfamiliar with pickleball, it’s basically a mash-up of tennis, badminton and pingpong. The game is played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. the
Pickleball’s increasing popularity can be attributed to several factors. First, the game is ideal for all skill levels. Since pickleball’s rules are like that of pingpong, it’s easy for most people to pick up on how to play the game. Pickleball offers something for beginners who might want to try their hand at a fun new game, seasoned players looking for more competitive play and just about everyone in between. Also, pickleball is a fun social activity. The courts are small enough for players to hold conversations, and the game can be played with a dozen people per session. If you’re looking to bond with your family or have an outing with friends, pickleball makes it easy to socialize while getting a fun workout. Speaking of workouts, pickleball is also healthy. The sport is just as great for mental health as it is for physical health. Many professional athletes use pickleball to help improve their balance, agility, reflexes and hand-eye coordination. It is also an amazing alternative for older athletes or athletes that have been injured playing other sports as pickleball puts less strain on the body than other games. Parks and Recreation Departments across the country are finding pickleball courts to be an affordable and popular choice for local parks and recreation facilities. Because pickleball can be played both indoors and outdoors, it is an accessible option for all types of recreational facilities. As a matter of fact, the sport of pickleball is gaining even more momentum here in Pensacola as Mayor D.C. Reeves and the City work to have “Project Pickle” voted on and approved by City Council by early January. “Project Pickle’’ is a proposal for the construction of an indoor sports facility that would include modular courts for a variety of sports, including the everpopular pickleball. The proposal is to bring the facility to the currently vacant Port of Pensacola Warehouse No. 4. President of Whitesell-Green Construction and the proposed developer for the project, Rob Fabbro and local attorney Scott Remington first presented their vision for the new facility to the City Council back in early November. Warehouse 4 Sports, the proposed name for the new facility, would serve as a multi-purpose space, which could be used for different types of indoor and
outdoor sports as well as trade shows and community events. The facility’s indoor “court sports,” a term coined by Community Outreach Coordinator Travis Peterson, would allow residents and tourists alike to enjoy playing the sports they love, regardless of the weather. The facility would also create opportunities for Pensacola to host more indoor sport tournaments for local athletes. The new facility would also include a large space for various types of community events like graduations, seminars, E-Sport events, expos and large conventions.
“I think Project Pickle has a chance to be a catalyst for economic development and prosperity for the city of Pensacola.” The facility would be developed according to a comprehensive four-step plan. First, the City Council will need to vote on a long-term lease agreement for the Warehouse No. 4 building. As the facility gets off the ground, the lease will need to have lower payments for the first few years, which the City must approve. Negotiations for the facility have been in effect months prior to Reeves’s swearing in ceremony in November. One problem the council faces is that the Warehouse No. 4 is located behind a security fence, so the fenceline will need to be relocated or redesigned before approval. The other issue is the sequencing of meetings. So far, the proposal has been discussed during only two meetings since Reeves began his term in the mayor’s office. Still, the mayor’s goal as of now is to have a lease brought to the council no later than the February meeting. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 9