District 5 Councilor Dan Lewis Gives Update on Upcoming Additions to Ventana Ranch Park Tennis and Pickleball Courts

ALBUQUERQUE – District 5 Councilor Dan Lewis acknowledges the community's concerns regarding the current court availability at Ventana Ranch Park and the rising popularity of pickleball. Councilor Lewis has conferred with the City Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) on ways to minimize the impact of the increased demand. The City is actively working to address the long wait times at the park’s pickleball and tennis courts with the addition of new courts.

"We understand the frustration expressed by pickleball players regarding court availability at Ventana Ranch Park," stated Councilor Lewis. "The popularity of pickleball has surged, and we are committed to providing adequate facilities to meet this growing demand."

Currently, Ventana Ranch Park features 12 tennis courts, with six of those courts dual-striped for pickleball, providing 12 pickleball courts. While this accommodates up to 48 pickleball players at a time, peak usage often exceeds this capacity. The current court configuration aims to strike a balance between pickleball and tennis play.

The PRD is making a significant investment of nearly $2 million for the construction of dedicated pickleball courts at Ventana Ranch Park. This project, set to commence this year, will add new dedicated pickleball courts and an administration building to the court complex. Upon completion, Ventana Ranch Park will boast 20 dedicated pickleball courts, accommodating up to 80 players simultaneously.

While he acknowledges that wait times can be frustrating, Councilor Lewis reminds players of both sports that sharing and rotating play is common practice at most pickleball and tennis facilities. PRD emphasizes the need for players to continue to use cooperative rotation to minimize court wait times.

"The City made a substantial commitment to the pickleball community on the West Side," Councilor Lewis emphasized. "We are proud that the City will be installing those new state-of-the-art facilities and meeting the needs of our residents."

The additional courts and facilities will be instrumental in balancing the needs of both pickleball and tennis players. Maintaining six unstriped tennis courts is essential for tennis league play, high school and middle school teams, USTA events, and PRD tennis programs. Dual-striped courts do not meet USTA standards, and further striping would exacerbate existing conflicts between the two sports.

The PRD also provides pickleball courts at Sierra Vista and Eagle Ranch, with plans to potentially dual-stripe courts at Paradise Skies Park, further expanding court availability in the area.

"We encourage pickleball players to utilize all available facilities in the West Side area," Councilor Lewis stated. "We also ask for the community's patience and cooperation during the construction phase of the new dedicated pickleball courts."