SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::
The Spalding County pickleball facility will soon be in service again for a tournament, and is nearing completion for public use.
Although construction has not yet been finalized, the Doc Holliday Shootout – a tournament sponsored by the Spalding County Pickleball Association – will take place Saturday, Aug. 12.
Officials also say the facility is nearing completion.
“What we actually have gotten to is substantial completion. We went through the punch list last Thursday with Hadley Construction and there were a couple of minor things that we felt needed to be addressed – a few minor things – but I’d say it’s 99 percent is completed,” said Spalding County Assistant County Manager Eric Mosley.
Following the facility’s tournament debut – the Georgia Games, which were held the weekend of June 24 – some residents expressed concern that the courts would not generally be available for public use.
Leisure Services Manager Kelly Leger, of Spalding County Parks, Public Grounds & Leisure Services, said the pickleball facility will not be reserved for special use, nor will it require a member of the Spalding County Pickleball Association to be present for courts to be unlocked.
“It hasn’t been turned over to the county for opening yet. It’s locked up now because the courts have to cure and it’s still a construction site,” Leger said. “They paused construction and secured things so that the Georgia Games tournament could be hosted, but as soon as the last game was played, it became a construction site again.”
Leger said once construction is completed, a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony will be held.
“It’s going to be awesome. The guests who came (for the Georgia Games) were just blown away. They were very impressed by the facility,” she said. “We have people calling daily asking when it’s going to be open.”
Leger again stressed that the pickleball facility will be open to the community for public use.
“When it’s open, it will be open, so I hope folks are starting to shop for their paddles and their balls,” she said. “The Pickleball Association will be sponsoring clinics to teach people how to play and keep score. People are going to be so proud to have this facility in our community.”
Mosley said reservations may already been made for court use.
“Rec One is our reservation system, and you can go on there and make a reservation in two-hour blocks. Go to the Parks and Rec website and then go to rental and use, and pickleball is on there,” he explained, adding that information regarding dates of upcoming special events during which the courts will not be open for public use is also listed.
Leger said excitement is growing for the facility’s opening.
“We’ll be hosting national competitions and other events. We’re going to be known all over the nation. We already are,” she said. “People will find they’re going to really, really enjoy it.”
