Battle Ground’s long-awaited Kiwanis Park upgrades are nearly complete, following months of construction delays.
City Communications Manager Alisha Smith, who spoke with Engineering Technician Chris Meyer, the project lead, confirmed that the Kiwanis Park upgrades are near completion. Completed work includes the new covered pickleball and basketball court structures, the pickleball court sound barrier, upgraded park lighting and landscape improvements.
“The percentage of completion for construction work out at Kiwanis Park is at about 95% at this point,” Smith said.
Remaining work includes painting lines on the basketball court, surfacing the pickleball courts, finishing drainage connections and installing fencing, nets, benches and bleachers.
Lighting for the courts is also being finalized. Workers are programming timers for the lights installed under the covered areas. Crews are also completing a stormwater system to manage runoff from the pickleball court, according to Smith.
Smith noted that excitement continues to build among residents, especially within the local pickleball community. The city has received frequent questions at public meetings and events from residents eager to play on the new courts.
“There’s a lot of excitement … a lot of interest,” Smith said. “When we do different meet-and-greets in the community, people even just coming to council meetings, I’ve had people stop and say, ‘Hey, when are we gonna get to play pickleball in Kiwanis Park?’”
The city anticipates a soft opening in early to mid-June, with a formal ribbon-cutting event likely following toward the end of June or early July. The city plans to invite community members, local volunteers, and the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce to the ribbon-cutting event. No official date has been announced yet, pending final inspections.
While some temporary fencing has been removed to move construction equipment, Smith clarified that the new courts are not yet open.
The city plans to invite community members, local volunteers, and the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce to the ribbon-cutting event.
Once open, the new pickleball courts will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. To help manage play, the city will install a “pickleball queuing station” — a paddle rack system where players can leave their paddles to reserve their spot in line.
“(There’ll) be a sign that explains how that will function,” Smith said. “But it will be an honor system, barring someone filling out a special event permit application.”
Outside of permitted events, there will be no way to formally reserve court time.
