Kenton County Parks & Recreation will soon add its second set of pickleball courts, bringing the fast-growing sport to even more County residents.
he Kenton County Fiscal Court approved a bid by Riegler Blacktop to redesign the tennis courts at Pioneer Park in Covington to include multiple pickleball courts. As part of the contract, Riegler will also renovate the park’s basketball courts and replace all fencing around the facility.
The project is anticipated to begin in late September, with a targeted completion in early 2025.
In 2023, the County added its first pickleball courts as part of a renovation at Richardson Road Park in Independence.
“Our team is thrilled with how well-used the pickleball courts at Richardson Road Park are, which made it an easy decision to look for ways to give residents access to pickleball courts at our other County parks,” Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann said. “We always want our parks to match the needs of our residents, and by making investments such as this, we’re able to do just that.”
Pickleball’s origins go back to 1965 when it was invented by three dads in Bainbridge, Washington. They wanted to entertain their kids, so they took to a badminton court, grabbed some ping pong paddles and a plastic ball, and designed a game for the family to play together. The sport blends badminton, tennis and ping pong elements, offering enjoyable recreation for competitive and casual players.
The project is anticipated to cost roughly $324,000. Pioneer Park is a 43-acre park located off KY-17 at 3952 Madison Pike in Covington.