A new pickleball project in Las Vegas is drawing national attention and sparking debate over government spending.
The city plans to build 25 pickleball courts at Wayne Bunker Family Park in Northwest Las Vegas, doubling the current number of courts available.
City Councilwoman Francis Allen-Palenske said, "Pickleball is without a doubt the fastest growing sport in America and I have constant calls I wanna play more pickleball." She emphasized that the $12 million project is funded by a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grant, not city funds. "Those are Nevada dollars being returned to Nevada, this is government working for us," she said.
However, the project has been criticized by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who included it in his 2024 'Festivus Report' on what he considers wasteful government spending. "I've played pickleball, everybody loves pickleball, but really the federal government has no business being in the pickleball business," Paul said.
Local watchdog group DOGE NV also questioned the use of federal land sale proceeds for the project, suggesting the funds should be directed toward affordable housing. Changing the allocation of these funds would require congressional action.
The BLM declined to comment but referred to the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, which allows proceeds from land sales to be used for parks, trails, and natural areas.
Allen-Palenske noted that Nevada ranks 48th among states in receiving federal grant dollars, highlighting the competitive nature of the grant process. The courts are expected to be completed by late next year.
Source: https://news3lv.com/news/local/las-vegas-pickleball-project-sparks-debate-over-federal-spending