Patrick Wesley, Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation Director, outlined his requests for the planned $10 million pickleball complex in southeast Shreveport in an email to TBA Studio on October 7, 2025 as follows:
Creating Indoor and Outdoor “Social Spaces” i.e. seating areas, over-head spectator viewing/standing areas for courts other than center court, in clubhouse areas, walking trails, picnic pavilions, park benches, etc. Note: Let’s go beyond the standard ADA code to meet needs of adaptive sports (wheelchair pickleball players) community and/or persons with a disabilities, i.e. restrooms, public viewing areas, doors, transition walkways, signage throughout the pickleball facility and throughout park grounds/greenspace. Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas.
Pickleball Park Site Plan Recommendation- see attached site plan of The Big Dill Pickle Club and Academy in Springdale, Arkansas. The Big Dill – The Big Dill
How Many Pickleball Courts Covered?- would like to see a minimum of 8 courts covered, pending cost.
Fabric Shade Covering of Courts with Aesthetic Appeal- Pickleball Court Shading | USA
Pickleball
Customer Spotlight: Shade Structures - Kloeckner Metals
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Shade Structures Play A Critical Role In The Rise Of Pickleball
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Pickleball Court Shade Structures | USA Shade https://share.google/ZIIqSUTz4099FNJGC
Contractors for Air Supported-Tension Dome or Fabric Structures:
Sports and Recreation | Broadwell Air Domes – Global Leader in Air Domes
Pickleball Court Shade Structures | USA Shade
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Pickleball Courts | Rubb USA | Made in USA Fabric Tension Buildings
Solar Air-Supported Domes(column-free) General Facts:
Air-Supported Structure- the dome uses air pressure to create a large, flexible, and durable enclosure for a variety of sports.
Sustainability & Solar Power- they incorporate solar-powered systems to minimize environmental impact and reduce energy costs.
High-Performance Materials- domes are built with advanced, weather-resistant materials that provide insulation and protection from elements like snow and wind.
Natural Lighting- skylights are often included to provide natural daylight, creating an open and airy feel.
Climate Control- Advanced HVAC systems and insulation maintain a comfortable environment for athletes and spectators.
Benefits of Year-Round Play- Allows for sports and training to continue regardless of weather, providing a consistent environment.
Cost-Effectiveness- more affordable to construct and maintain than permanent sports complexes, especially for seasonal use.
Weather Protection- provides a secure and comfortable venue that protects against rain, snow, wind, and heat.
Open, Column-Free Space- Offers vast, unobstructed interior space for various sports without the need for interior support columns.
Regional Pickleball Facilities With Fabric Shade or Open Air Dome Structures:
Oasis Pickleball Club(Rockwall, TX): Pickleball Club | Courts, Lessons, Corporate Events & Tournaments
Opelika Pickleball Facility(Opelika , AL): Opelika Pickleball Facility | Opelika, AL Note: This facility will be hosting a USA Pickleball National Tournament on March 11-15, 2026
US Open Pickleball Championship Open Air Arena (Florida): US Open Pickleball Championship
Open Air Arena – USA Shade
Patch Reef Pickleball Park(Boca Raton, FL): New All-Weather Pickleball Facility To Open at Patch Reef Park - BocaNewsNow.com
Houstonian Hotel(Houston, TX): The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa – USA Shade
Pickleball Court Construction am Maintenance:
Pickleball Courts- Pickleball Court Construction And Maintenance Manual
Note: Please ensure proper grading and draining of all courts!
Pickleball Court/Park Lighting- LED lighting per USA Pickleball Guidelines | Pickleball Court Lighting Guidelines | USA Pickleball and adequate park lighting throughout park for park users and safety purposes. Recommended Sport Lighting Contact-Musco Sports Lighting: Tywon Johnson, Louisiana Territory Sales Associate @ (361)244-1571 cell or Tywon.Johnson@musco.com | Abby Sutten, Inside Sales Associate @ (641)670-2750 cell or abby.sutten@musco.com
Specialty Courts Designs for Teen/GenZ Pickleball Programs “Glow in the Dark Pickleball Courts”- Glow in the Park Pickleball has become a game changer with Gen Zer pickleball players. Gen Zers are highly enthusiastic about both pickleball and modern, social variations like "glow in the park" pickleball events. Glow-in-the-dark pickleball, which often features neon lights, music, and a party atmosphere, aligns well with Gen Z’s preference for fun, socially interactive, and visually exciting experiences.
XGLOsive XGLOsive Tennis Florida XGLOsive (@xglosive) • Instagram photos and videos
Designated Kids Courts and ADA Courts(Adaptive Pickleball Play)- If additional funding and/or square footage is available, please consider adding 2 dedicated kid courts and 2 ADA/Adaptive Sport-Pickleball Courts. See recommended dimensions and design features below:
Ages 7–8
Court: 24–30 ft x 12–15 ft.
Net: 32 in center height.
Run-off clearances: 5–7 ft behind; 4–5 ft on sides.
Notes: Keep non-volley line proportionally closer (e.g., 5–6 ft from net) to suit reach and reaction time.
Ages 9–10
Court: 30–36 ft x 15–18 ft.
Net: 32–34 in center height.
Run-off clearances: 6–8 ft behind; 5–6 ft on sides.
Notes: Begin standard NVZ width but at reduced distance from the net (6–6.5 ft) to build soft-game skills safely.
Ages 11–12
Court: 36–40 ft x 18–20 ft.
Net: 34 in center height.
Run-off clearances: 8–10 ft behind; 6–8 ft on sides.
Notes: Transition to full NVZ distance (7 ft) and near-standard service boxes while keeping slightly shorter length.
Recommended ADA Design Features for Pickleball Courts: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/areada-pickleball-courts-desi-8Rh94CeYTNCbSvEgoV5p.w
Show Courts for High Level Players (top ranking amateurs and/or professionals)- In addition to the 1 Championship Court, may want to dedicate 2 of the 19 courts to be “show courts” with smaller spectator seating #’s than the championship court; but definitely include overhead viewing areas for spectators, i.e “social spaces”(see attached picture via The Big Dill Pickle Club in Springdale, Ark.).
Home - 2025 Pickleball World Championships
Pro-Shop- needs to be upscale, with enough square footage to display a wide variety of pickleball merchandise, i.e. paddles, pickleballs, apparel, bags, athletic footwear, training aids and other related court accessories.
Club House/Restaurant/Kitchen- needs to be upscale with a large seating/gathering spaces for the public. A pickleball clubhouse typically offers quick-serve, energizing options like protein bowls, wraps, smoothies; alongside with handhelds such as chicken tenders, burgers, pizza slices, wings, hot dogs, salads, and related specialty food items. The menu will be flexible, offering from light bites before or between games, to more substantial meals for after-game gatherings. Kitchen space and equipment must be developed to meet these cooking and preparation needs.
Brunch, Lunch & Dinner Menu | At Fault Dallas Sports Bar | Farmers Branch TX — At Fault Note: There will need to be a separate bar area to serve alcohol. Therefore, make sure space is built in for daily alcohol sales (service bar, back bar, under bar, efficient storage and adequate storage for inventory/equipment, POS station and handwashing facilities) See attached retro bar, restaurant and lounge pictures from At Fault Pickleball and Social Hub in Farmers Branch, Texas.
Please plan to mount several television monitors in /club house-restaurant area for public viewing (sports bar look). Seating for dining/lounge areas, min. of 150. Please consider installing primary dining areas with sound-proof glass.
Public Parking Spaces- need to accommodate daily pickleball players/large tournaments, daily park users and special park events via playground area, walking trail, YMCA 2 athletic fields, picnic pavilions/park benches and open play area users. Note: Lash YMCA currently has 192 parking spaces in the front of their facility and stays fairly filled most of the mornings, business day and late afternoons.
Pickleball Facility/Park Primary Needs WIfi/Broadband Streaming Capabilities- High Video Quality is a Must! Most state, regional and national pickleball tournaments will be streamed and/or televised live or pre-recorded via USA Pickleball, Pickleball Chanell, Pickleball TV(PBTV-Direct TV), PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball. This facility and park grounds will need strong and dependable Wi-Fi bandwidth performance throughout facility and park. Also, instructors and pickleball players taking lessons, love to have their lessons recorded for replay and training feedback through technology. May want to have recording/streaming capability on dedicated teaching/lesson courts or all indoor/covered courts.
Note: Wifi will also be needed so players can keep their playing scores digitally integrated (while onsite) to DUPR, the world most accurate pickleball rating https://www.dupr.com/ and current pickleball club management and reservation software technology
PodPlay | A best-in-class booking system for managing a sports facility.
Dedicated Areas for Sound/Production/DJ- will need small sound and production area near or above championship court for sound, television/streaming production staff and DJ.
Park Play Space With Community Targeted Amenities- large synthetic turf/play mound play area with various play mound sizes and lighted glow park appeal throughout play area. If feasible, install playground system with pour in place surfacing.
(5 - 12 year old) Inclusive Playground System with a 45’ X 55’ X 12’ shade structure and pour in place rubber safety surfacing: See attached picture
Outdoor Rock Mounted (Waterproof/Weather Resistant Speakers) Speaker system- to play children/family friendly music near primary playground system during park hours.
Glow Park Lighting: Joya Playground: Mesmerizing Texas Evenings with Vivid LED Lights | Nighttime Wonder in Texas Park
Playground-Grass-PlayMounds-Marketing-Sheet.pdf: https://share.google/kMb8e9UZVVlcEcRT1
Corn Hole Court area
Pavilions and Park Benches- pavilions provide shelter and act as a central gathering spaces, while park benches offer rest and relaxation for park users.
Sand Beach Volleyball Court- 1 or 2 sand beach volleyball courts, with public seating areas. Beach Volleyball - Youngsville Sports Complex
Security Cameras Needed Throughout Facility and Park via Real Time Crime Center- For safety and security purposes, we will need to install several security cameras inside the facility/courts and throughout park grounds. Shreveport Police Department and Caddo Parish Sheriff Department can assist us integrating all cameras with the City of Shreveport-Real Crime Center. The City of Shreveport Real Time Crime Center is staffed to monitor approved cameras 24 hours a day 7 days a week in order to maximize effectiveness and to better assist partnering agencies and public safety.
Contacts for Camera Equipment/Installation Quotes: Caleb Arreguin, Guardian Alarm @ (318)540-6433 cell or Caleba@simplyguardian.com
Contact for Real Time Crime Center(integration of Camera System)- Kevin Thomas @ (318)673-5219 office, (318)401-5218 cell or Kevin.Thomas@shreveportla.gov
Other Recommendations for Pickleball Facility/Park:
(Pickleball Facility)
Shower Facility Needs- will need separate men and women shower facilities with locker room space or incorporate individual showers in individual family restrooms-outside of required/code requirements for restrooms facilities.
Acoustic-Noise Reduction/Sound Glass System(pending sound study results and recommendations) Pickleball Court Contractors | PICKLETILE | PICKLEGLASS
Tournament Director/Staff Work Room Space- will need Wi-Fi, conference table or work station areas for tournament staff.
First Aid/Trainer Room- dedicated space for certified trainers, EMS personnel and/or to provide first aid care for injuries or illnesses until professional help arrives.
Storage- for standard facility equipment, merchandise, tables, chairs, etc.
Merchandise Space for State/Regional/National Tournaments- identify large space area during state, regional and national tournaments for merchandise vendors and sponsors activations. Note: this can also be set up under a large conditioned tent in an opened designated greenspace area of the park; but needs to be close/short walk from the pickleball venue with electrical service for all vendors and Wi-Fi availability for respective POS systems.
Charging Stations and/or Additional Electrical Outlets Throughout Facility- will need several designated phone charging stations and/or extra electrical outlets to charge phones near seating or social gathering places.
Hydration Stations/Water Fountains Vandal-Resistant, Bi-Level Water Cooler with Touchless Water Bottle Filling Station | A132.8-VR-BF Series - Murdock Manufacturing
Television Monitors- to mount several television monitors in /club house restaurant area for public viewing (to view other sporting events while in facility i.e. sports bar look/feel).
LED Monitors(Inside and Outside Pro Shop or Restaurant)- for daily announcements, upcoming tournament information, current court availability and to promote sponsors.
Large Scoreboard or LED Video Display Board on Championship Court- to display official scoring and to promote sponsors.
Pickleball Art- related art or mural art displays can be included in the new facility.
(Park)
Solar powered phone charger stations- Solar powered phone charging - Powerstack™ - USA Solar Powered Charging Pole — Sun Charge Systems
Power Sources/Electrical Stations for Food Trucks(2 -3 trucks)- during summer season, special park events and regional/state and national tournaments.
Accessibility Areas(Public and Park maintenance Crew)- gates or primary entrance areas that allow wheelchair access or needed entrance areas for mowing equipment.
Hydration Stations/Water Fountains- Vandal-Resistant, Bi-Level Water Cooler with Touchless Water Bottle Filling Station | A132.8-VR-BF Series - Murdock Manufacturing
Lightning Detector System (park and pickleball facility)- to provide warnings for approaching storms and severe weather.