After months of discussions, the city of Destin could have pickleball courts by December 2025. At the Sept. 5 council meeting, the council approved unanimously the 100 percent construction documents for pickleball courts to be constructed next to the city annex off Indian Bayou Trail. Council member Teresa Hebert made the motion to approve the construction documents, Johnny King seconded, and it passed unanimously. But the question Mayor Bobby Wagner asked was what kind of timeline the city is looking at to have the project completed. “Late next year ... if we can get started the first of 2025,” interim City Manager Larry Jones said.
A request for bids will be going out any day now and according to the procurement schedule, bid committee evaluations will be in early November and the execution of contract will take place in December. The project description includes construction of four pickleball courts, pavement restriping, stormwater improvements, construction of restroom facility, court lighting, pedestrian paths, temporary gravel parking and two shade structures.
The estimated cost of the project is $400,000. The city currently has $375,000 of existing monies and is anticipating $50,000 in grant money, according to Finance Director Krystal Strickland.
“Until we put it out for bid, we want know just how much it is going to cost?” council member Dewey Destin asked. “I would be thrilled if it comes in under that amount,” Destin said.
Permitting is estimated to take place in January 2025 with construction to begin in March and completed in December. “It will be about a yearlong project, once we get if off the ground,” Jones said. “Sounds like we’re about to get some pickleball,” Wagner said.
Source: https://www.thedestinlog.com/story/news/2024/09/12/pickleball-courts-are-happening-in-destin/75174997007/