As the City of Bridgeport gets ready to announce the grand opening of a sizable outdoor pickleball facility at Deegan and Hinkle Lakes Park, people may not be aware that these courts will not be the first outdoor pickleball courts in the community.

 

This summer, with the help of the Bridgeport Public Works Department, the Parks and Recreation Department added a pickleball court that is a little bit out of sight, but already seeing regular usage. The court is located at Compton Park.

 

“Last fall we tore out the two courts at Compton Park and then over the summer the public works department poured new concrete courts up there including the full-size basketball court that was also resurfaced and had new lights added,” said P&R Director Joe Shuttleworth said. “We have another small court that we also redid.”

 

The small court had new concrete poured as well, along with a new surface coating. The court in question is behind the main basketball court and has what Shuttleworth called a “ball wall” and a single basketball hoop.

 

“It’s kind of a multi-purpose surface,” said Shuttleworth. “When we resurfaced the new concrete surface that was poured, we striped it for pickleball.”

 

For those concerned that the small court can longer be used for basketball, wall ball, or any other game due to the net required for pickleball, there is no need to worry. Everything can still be done as it was in the past.

 

“We have a portable net up there, which can be easily moved on to the court or off,” said Shuttleworth of the wheeled net that is easily transferable. “We’ve already had a lot of positive feedback on it. It provides another opportunity at our parks, particularly one where a lot of members of the community in that area can walk there and take advantage of it.”

 

Editor's Note: Photos show the redone court and pickleball net on a rainy day where no one was playing and the park was empty.