Park City is asking for proposals from individuals and firms to build and operate an indoor pickleball facility on municipal property to meet the growing demand for a year-round place to play the sport.
The city is considering entering into a public-private partnership to provide the courts and the municipality would offer a lease of undeveloped city-owned land for its part. In addition, Park City — which has a budget of $0.00 for the project — would possibly make requested contributions that do not cost “a significant amount of investment,” such as a bus stop, a transit route and the sharing of existing parking.
The private partner would be responsible for constructing, maintaining and operating the year-round facility for the length of the lease. Under the terms of the arrangement, daily fees and passes must be available to the public, including reduced fees for Park City residents. The facility could not be a private club or a limited access operation.
A city staff report says while not common, public-private partnerships for recreation facilities “can be a win-win proposition for public agencies and private sector/non-profit partners, delivering cost-effective, high-quality amenities that enhance the health, well-being, and quality of life for residents and
visitors alike.”
The project site is 15 acres at 675 Gillmor Way, between the Park City Ice Arena and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s Center of Excellence. The parcel was donated to Park City for recreational and open space usage as part of the Intermountain Healthcare Master Planned Development, according to the staff report.
A request for proposals was issued on June 6 and submissions are due by 3 p.m. July 9.
A $30 million general obligation bond on the ballot in last November’s election would have funded recreation improvements, but Park City voters rejected the measure. City leaders had planned to use the money for projects such as pickleball courts, a refrigerated ice sheet that would have been outside and covered, Nordic skiing upgrades, the expansion of fitness offerings and new lights for sports fields.
Pickleball — which is a combination of tennis, badminton and ping-pong — is played on a level court with short-handled paddles and a light hollow ball. Two or four players hit the ball back and forth over a net that is 34 inches in the middle and 36 inches high at the sidelines.
According to the 2024 Sports & Fitness Industry Association Topline Participation Report, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America. In Park City, officials have struggled to keep up with the demand created by the boom in the sport’s popularity and balance court usage by pickleball players with usage by tennis players.
A selection committee will evaluate the proposals based on the benefits to Park City; the construction plan; the business plan, including the overall business philosophy and the expected approach to managing the facility; and experience constructing or operating a pickleball or recreation facility, among other criteria.
The final design will have to be approved by both the Park City Planning Commission and City Council.