New pickleball courts and a complete park makeover are coming soon to Sherwood Park

In a 4-1 vote Tuesday night, the Paso Robles City Council approved a construction bid for a new project at Sherwood Park on Creston Road. The project includes seven new pickleball courts, a new parking lot and new restrooms.

There are currently only five public pickleball courts in Paso Robles at Centennial Park.

“We’ve been asking for the tennis courts to be able to shade the tennis courts and we keep getting no, no, no, no, no,” said resident Mary Felline. “So we’re really excited to see if this actually comes to fruition.”

Felline said she saw up to 50 people in Centennial Park at a time, including tourists, and had to wait 20 minutes between pickleball games.

“Right now there are a lot of people who don’t want to play here at Centennial,” Felline said. “They joined TTR, or they go to Cambria, or if they go to Atascadero, just because the wait here is so long.” ”

The new pickleball courts at Sherwood Park were approved over three years ago. The estimated cost at the time was $1.3 million. Due to increasing labor and material costs, the project is now expected to cost a total of approximately $4 million.

The City Council is using $2 million in ARPA funding provided to the city during the pandemic, as well as funds from the South Vine Street Bridge project, to offset the additional costs.

JJ Fisher Construction was the company awarded the $3.2 million contract to complete the Sherwood Park project.

“It’s a very welcoming sport,” Atascadero resident Paul Shannon said while playing pickleball. “Anyone can come out and do it.” The barrier to entry is low. I had friends who had never played before come out and really get into the sport, and it’s something that allows everyone to get out, be outside, exercise and maintain hand-eye coordination.”

According to Public Works Director Freda Berman, there is no expected start date for construction, but it is expected to take up to 15 months and be completed in the first quarter of 2026.