CITY OF DURHAM: DPR to Install First Dedicated Pickleball Facility in Durham at Piney Wood Park

By Press release submission

Aug 1, 2021

City of Durham issued the following announcement on Jul. 31.

Bull City Open Pickleball Tournament will be held this weekend to support the project

Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) is excited to announce that we will be installing our first dedicated pickleball facility at Piney Wood Park (400 E Woodcroft Pkwy). DPR will be able to host sanctioned tournaments, clinics, lessons, ladder play, and of course, a lot of open play with this new 14 court facility.

According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball—a cross between ping pong, tennis, and badminton—is among the fastest-growing sports in the nation. The court is about a third of the size of a tennis court and uses a paddle and a pickleball, a colorful perforated hard plastic ball.

This weekend, Durham Area Pickleball Players (DAPP) in partnership with DPR and the Durham Parks Foundation (DPF) will host a Bull City Open Pickleball Tournament to raise funds for the lighting project at the facility. The tournament will be held at Bethesda Park (1814 Stage Road) on Friday, July 30 –Sunday, August 1, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. daily.

To kick-off the event this Friday (at approximately 7:45 a.m.), Tournament Director/Durham Ambassador Tracey Taylor, Co-Director Toby Berla, and their team will present a check for $11,111 to DPR Director Wade Walcutt.

“We are thrilled to provide this much-needed facility for a sport that has become increasingly popular in Durham and the surrounding areas,” stated DPR Director Wade Walcutt. “We are extremely grateful for the tournament organizers from DAPP, the Durham Parks Foundation, tournament players, sponsors, and donors for their generosity and support of this tournament.”

Divisions are separated by age and level. The top three winners will receive a medal. Registration is full for the tournament with a total of 232 players, but spectators are welcome. The entry fee was $45 for the first round and $15 for the second. Food trucks will also be on-site.

Funds for the overall project will go toward the lighting portion of the new pickleball courts, which is scheduled to be complete mid-year of 2022. The Durham Parks Foundation will manage the funds to support the lighting project and other amenities at the facility.

Special thank you to the following Bull City Open Pickleball Tournament sponsors: Durham Parks Foundation, PROLITE Pickleball, Pickleball Central, GAMMA, ENGAGE, Vulcan, CORE, JIGSAW, ONIX and SELKIRK.

Original source can be found here.