Redding opens outdoor courts for pickleball

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Redding Mayor Missy McArthur was on hand to observe as Al Shipman, a Redding contractor and builder and a fan of the sport, with Mike Archibald, a lead organizer for the Redding Pickleball 4 All, cut the ceremonial ribbon to the newly refurbished Sport Court at Enterprise Park.

But anyone who's visited the east side park on mornings knows those six outdoor courts have been getting good use for a while — or that parking lot wouldn't be packed.

Sport Court — formerly the Roller Hockey Rink — became home to pickleball about four years ago. The group spraypainted lines on the cement. But the surface, built in 1994, was in poor condition.

The city, with the pickleball group's help, applied for a grant through the Shasta Regional Community Foundation for the McConnell Fund specifically, said Kim Niemer, the city's community services director.

The $26,000 grant covered resurfacing of all six courts.