Father and son Roberto and Jahir Vega, 11, are throwing the football around on the open field at Wesselman Park, that by fall, could be home to 24 brand new pickleball courts.
The senior Vega doesn’t mind the field being turned into pickleball courts. “There is a lot of space,” he said.
This week, the parks board announced receiving five bids for the project, all totaling between $1.2 and $1.5 million.
Interim Parks Director Steve Schaefer said now, they have to look at the bids and see how the bidders' plans compare to the newest design vision.
“The new design doesn't have the road through these woods. It only has the pickleball courts in this location,” he said. “And we will determine what the final product may look like. And then the Parks Board will consider that for final approval.”
Schaefer says 24 courts are planned, and possibly eight covered courts. He said the original plan also included a stadium court, which has also been removed.
He said it will mostly be funded by the parks bond, but some will come from private donors.
“We want this to be a public-private partnership,” he said. “And we think that we'll be able to make that happen if the Parks Board gives approval when it comes to them.”
The board has to look at the bids and see which fits best into the vision for the pickleball feature. Schaefer said they also want pickleball programming at the site.
“We've talked to the YMCA, we've talked to the Evansville Tennis Association, to try to provide some special programming for the community, through the parks department. And also we're looking at tournaments,” he said.
Construction could be complete by fall.