Demand & opposition for Caddo pickleball park intensifies

The proposed facility would cost ten-million using revenue bonds from the Parish of Caddo.

“Less than a week ago we had a drive-by shooting a quarter mile away. I’ve been here through every bit of it. I’ve heard everything you’ve had to say. I think great, fantastic. But does it have to cost ten-million dollars? I’m like the lady in red. You could take ten-million dollars and spread it throughout this city and you guys could really do something. I got a daughter who went to Centenary College got a fabulous education. She’s in California. Every time I come here I cannot find a motel worth staying out. Every time we try to go to a restaurant that had a good reputation they are closed. So when you tell me this is for tourism. I say what are they coming for?” said a resident who lives nearby the proposed pickleball complex.

The parish proposal is to build a 19-court pickleball park on East Flournoy Lucas in southeast Shreveport using the land behind Kroger and the Lash Family YMCA.

“We’re excited about this project and what it could mean for our city and our personal lives. My whole life my hometown city has been a pass-through city. A place a majority of my peers could not wait to live behind. Now I’m surrounding daily by friends and clients who are pickleball fanatics who choose to stay or return to Shreveport because it’s home. But it does not mean the city should stay stagnant,” said a resident in favor of the pickleball complex.

The park would include shaded structures with picnic areas, pavilions, a walking trail, seating up to 50 people to host championship style events for national and regional tournaments to boost tourism.

“I think the commission does a really good job of being stewards of our tax dollars. This is a revenue bond. I get that. The revenue generated from the pickleball court is going to pay that bond back. Our biggest concern is that, has there been enough thought into this about it being just a pickleball court. Have we thought of other ways to spend that ten-million dollars?” said a resident opposing pickleball complex.

“I just wanted to say I’m in support of the pickleball project. I think it would be great for sports tourism. It’s one the fastest growing sports tourism. I think it would be great for the city and the parish,” said a resident in favor.

Several residents told the commission it costs too much when too much of the parish is in desperate need of investment support.

“My commissioner is very limited as to what he can do to help the Cedar Grove area. So I stand in opposition to ten-million dollars as to what is you could do with that. I could understand a million dollars,” said a resident opposed.

The last vote on the pickleball park was pushed back to committee last month. On Monday, the Long Range Planning Committee approved it again to head back to the commission work session on August 18.

The parish has a website detailing an in-depth overview of the proposal for residents to learn more.