GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – It’s out with the old and in with the new at Gainesville’s Tom Petty Park.
The city will be demolishing the racquetball courts at the park starting the week of July 1.
“At Tom Petty Park, the courts have fallen into disrepair and have become a magnet for illegal activity, so the community and the Gainesville Police Department have been advocating for their removal for years,” said Pete McNiece, Gainesville’s Wild Spaces & Public Places Project Manager.
The racquetball court will eventually be replaced with pickleball courts which has dramatically risen in popularity in recent years.
“Last year’s Parks and Recreation ‘Needs Assessment’ identified additional pickleball courts as one of the highest priority needs in Gainesville,” said McNiece. “This will help address that need and allow tennis players to have dedicated use of their courts instead of trying to share them with pickleball players.”
McNiece said having dedicated pickleball courts will reduce scheduling issues for the courts between tennis and pickleball players; as well as eliminate the need for multiple lines on the courts. He added that the City of Gainesville still has racquetball courts at Albert Ray Massey Park for that community to use.
The city says the removal of the racquetball courts is the first phase of construction to allow for improvements coming to the park in 2025.
Upgrades at the park include:
- addition of eight dedicated pickleball courts
- added seating areas
- a new pavilion
- pedestrian entrance from the Northeast 16th Ave. crosswalk
- re-routing the multi-purpose trail for ADA accessibility
- renovating and enlarging the restrooms
- upgrades to the landscaping
- code-required modifications to the park’s stormwater management basins
McNiece said the improvement project also includes a new restroom building with concessions and storage space for softball/baseball user groups.
The renovations are expected to begin in January 2025 and be complete by the summer.
McNiece says the park will remain open during the demolition of the racquetball courts and the future construction.
“We will make every effort to keep the majority of the park open during construction and only cordon off areas where we are working for the safety of the public,” said McNiece.