Log In


Reset Password
Opinion Editorial Cartoons Op-Ed Editorials Letters to the Editor

Let’s talk about pickleball

Since Jim Cross and the Herald has decided to open the dialogue on pickleball I feel compelled to follow up and continue the dialogue. I too play some tennis from time to time and appreciate the tennis community’s concern with comingling with pickleball. As Mr. Cross has indicated in his letter, "He loves a good argument,“ so here goes.

First off, the tennis community has 14 dedicated courts to play on. Pickleball has zero. The Southwest Colorado Pickleball Association (swcpa.wildapricot.org) has been lobbying for dedicated courts for more than six years now. Being denied the use of any of the tennis courts seems somewhat unfair as our tax dollars go toward supporting the tennis courts. So indirectly, the pickleball community is sponsoring the tennis community courts without the ability to use them. Paying for something and not being able to use it seems wrong.

Another part of the argument is monetary. The city and county need more revenue. The loss of oil and gas revenue may never come back. The city from sales tax primarily and the county from property tax primarily. When we get dedicated pickleball courts in Durango, the local pickleball association can start hosting tournaments. All of our neighboring communities are already doing this. The amount of monetary influx into our coffers would be alarming and substantial. We have seen this with other sporting events brought to Durango. Visitors bring money with them to spend on hotels, restaurants and other activities throughout our area. Revenue generated.

Brian Blanchard

Durango