The Orange Beach Pickleball Complex opened with a bang, literally, on Thursday, May 7, with clouds rumbling nearby and rain holding off long enough for city officials to cut the ribbon on the new 14-court facility. 

“This has been a labor of love for the entire city,” Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Ard said. 

Councilwoman Ginger Harrelson had the honor of cutting the ribbon on Court 7 alongside Mayor Tony Kennon and council members Jeff Silvers, Jack Robertson and Robert Stuart. They were joined by past council members Annette Mitchell and Joni Blalock, City Administrator Ford Handley, City Engineer Chris Pappas, Director Ard, Construction and Facilities Manager Glenn Smith, Pickleball and Tennis Manager Kevin LaPointe, and architect Sted McCollough. Harris Contracting Services was the general contractor for the project that included the construction of pickleball courts, restrooms, and roadway and parking improvements. (In the photo, from left, are Stuart, Robertson, Silvers, Harrelson, Ard, Pappas, Handley, Smith, McCollough, Blalock, Mitchell, LaPointe and Mayor Kennon.)

“Welcome and thank y’all for being here,” Mayor Kennon said. “It’s been a chore getting this done but we finally have it done. I hope everyone is proud of what we have.” 

The complex, located on the Orange Beach Recreation Campus, features 14 lighted courts, shade cabanas, restrooms, and a pavilion. It is open to the public with no reservations or membership required. Courts are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Indoor Pickleball is still offered at the Recreation Center as well. 

“It’s incredibly rewarding for me to see this done,” Ard said to a crowd gathered Thursday morning. “We’ve been working on this for a really long time. But it’s not just the pickleball courts and the building, we did a lot of parking improvements. We added 100 spaces to this lot and we filled them today, so that’s really great. 

“When we first discussed this… the one directive I got was to make it bigger and better than anybody else’s pickleball courts in the whole area and I feel like we accomplished that.”

She said the facility represents more than courts: “It’s connection, recreation, wellness and community and I appreciate all of you for coming out today because it’s all for you. We are so proud now to be able to offer this for residents and visitors for years and years to come. I’d like to thank Mayor Kennon, all City Council members, previous and now; City Administrator Ford Handley, this was your vision; our city staff who made all of this come together … Projects like this truly take a team effort and we have the best out there, hands down.”

Pappas said he was proud to be part of making the pickleball complex a reality. 

“It’s been a very fun project,” Pappas said. “I started here shortly before Nicole. This was my first project. We did all of the civil design in house and then with the help of Sted with the pavilion here, we got a complete package and bid it out. We had a great contractor in Harris. Lots of support from the city, the mayor and staff, and Ford. A lot of help from Glenn Smith. Just a good overall project. …  It’s a great day here.” 

LaPointe, the city pickleball and tennis manager, welcomed everyone to the courts. 

“I was hired almost a year ago to this day and this immediately fell into my lap,” he said. “I am so excited to be releasing this incredible complex to the community today.”

Ard said the Parks and Recreation Department’s mission is to “provide fun, safe, and affordable recreation opportunities that enhance the quality of life to our community.”

“And I feel like if there's any facility that does that, it’s this one,” she said. “So thank you all for being here today. Just so you know, the theme today is ‘Dinks are Better Here’.” 

For more information, including court policies, visit https://www.orangebeachal.gov/1657/Pickleball-Complex. The complex is located at 4869 Wilson Blvd. 

Originally published by City of Orange Beach.