Pickleball Court Feasibility Project

Project Overview

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, the Twin Cities metro area, and Burnsville with participation increasing 223.5% over the past three years according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. As of 2024, the City has one dedicated pickleball complex with 8 courts in Red Oak Park. Since the opening in 2018, Red Oak pickleball courts have experienced extremely high participation use.

The City’s Parks Plan, adopted in 2024, highlighted a community interest in investing in our current park infrastructure and adding new assets to meet the needs of a changing community. Specifically, the community requested that existing tennis and basketball courts be resurfaced and new pickleball courts be added.

Since 2022, staff have been working with a consultant and the community to determine if an existing park site could accommodate an outdoor pickleball complex. The project has focused on park locations that could host 6 to 8 designated pickleball courts, shade structures, seating and lights.

Site Analysis

The site analysis for a new pickleball complex in Burnsville's park system involves three phases: screening, evaluation, and priority.

Screening: Out of 76 parks, 21 community parks and 1 neighborhood park (Hollows Park) were shortlisted. Community parks were prioritized for their expansive spaces and infrastructure ideal for a pickleball complex. Screening criteria included open space, environmental impact, tree clearing, noise (500+ feet from residences), parking, existing activity levels, infrastructure (water/electric), lighting, earthwork, future expansion and cost-efficiency.
Evaluation: Shortlisted sites were assessed based on weighted criteria reflecting project and community needs:
1. Environmental: Minimal disruption to natural resources (open space, tree removal).
2. Human: Noise distance, parking, compatibility with park activities and geographic equity.
3. Operational: Cost-efficiency, existing utilities, lighting, grading, expansion potential and budget impact. Each criterion was assigned a weight to determine site suitability.
Priority: Sites were ranked using a weighted scoring system. Parks scoring the highest were considered most viable to host a pickleball complex, ensuring optimal resource use and community benefit.

Next Steps

Following the Burnsville City Council's direction and approval of the second contract amendment, staff and Kimley-Horn has been tasked with conducting a pickleball feasibility study for four parks: Alimagnet Park, Cliff Fen Park, Hollows Park, and Rose Park. The study detailed in the Alimagnet Pickleball Courts Amendment 02 (dated April 25, 2025), includes schematic design and comprehensive community engagement to evaluate the viability of an 8-court dedicated pickleball facility at each site. The study aims to inform the City Council's decision on a preferred site by Fall 2025, with potential construction documents prepared for Summer 2026.

Objectives

Assess the feasibility of constructing an 8-court pickleball facility at Alimagnet, Cliff Fen, Hollows and Rose Parks through site analysis, traffic, parking, stormwater, noise and protected species assessments.
Engage the community transparently to gather input, identify priorities, and build trust, ensuring the selected site aligns with community needs.
Collaborate with Collins Aerospace to evaluate Rose Park’s viability, given its leased status, and secure a long-term land use commitment if selected.
Deliver comprehensive studies and community feedback to support the City Council’s site selection by Fall 2025.