The phrase "if you build it, they will come" is a famous line from the 1989 movie Field of Dreams. It suggests that if you create something valuable or desirable, people will be drawn to it.
This Thursday, the Caddo Commission may vote to issue $10 million in revenue bonds to build a proposed pickleball complex to be built on land to be donated to Caddo Parish at the Forbing YMCA complex. Attached below are "Quick Facts" on the Caddo Parish Pickleball Park that are posted on the Caddo Parish website. Plans are for 19 OUTDOOR courts, eight with shade structures.
A quick internet review reveals a substantial number of existing pickleball courts in the Shreveport Bossier area, including the following:
- Youree Sports Complex--3 indoor courts with $7 fee
- Lash Family YMCA at Forbing--3 indoor courts for YMCA members
- North Port Sports--6 indoor courts with a one-time fee
- Pickle Pen--2 indoor courts with a one-time fee
- Southern Hills Tennis Center--6 outdoor courts with a one-time fee
- Trinity Heights Baptist Church--3 indoor courts (no fee listed)
- Querbes Tennis Center--2 outdoor courts with a one-time fee
- Knight Street YMCA--3 indoor courts for YMCA members
- Noel Methodist Church--3 indoor with free play
- The Training Ground of NWLA--3 courts with a one-time fee
- Bellaire Pickleball--4 courts with a one-time fee
- Shady Grove Community Center--1 court with free play
- Cypress Baptist Church--6 courts with free play
- Bossier Bellaire Fitness
- Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club--6 courts for members
- East Ridge Country Club--6 courts for members
- Just Pickleball--5 indoor courts
- Hooter Park --2 indoor courts with free pay
- Barksdale Air Force Base--2 outdoor courts with free pay for military guests
- FB Sports at First Baptist Bossier--4 outdoor courts for church members
**THIS LIST INCOMPLETE --READERS ARE WELCOME TO SEND IN MORE INFORMATION**
The goal of this article is to invoke an objective review of the short-term and long-term prospects for success of this proposed project. To date, many question if this has been the case in meetings of the Caddo Commission and its committee.
