Roseburg to unveil $2.53 million outdoor pickleball, tennis courts

Roseburg players are about to get something the area has not had in one place before: 10 dedicated outdoor pickleball courts, plus eight renovated tennis courts, at the city’s only outdoor public courts. The $2.53 million rebuild at 1201 NW Stewart Parkway is set to welcome the public with a grand opening party on Saturday, May 9, when residents can play free from noon to 4 p.m., tour the finished site and grab barbecue.

For amateur players, the biggest change is access. The refurbished complex gives Roseburg a single outdoor public hub for pickleball instead of scattered, limited options, and the courts are priced to stay within reach. Adults will pay $2 to use the courts, youth 18 and under will play free, and non-members can buy month-to-month outdoor-court memberships. That kind of pricing matters in a town where court time can be the difference between getting regular games in and waiting for a rare opening.

The makeover goes well beyond fresh paint and new lines. The project replaced public courts that were more than 50 years old and added new fencing, lighting, seating, an entryway and a security system. The funding behind it was just as layered as the construction: a $750,000 state grant, $523,000 in city money and $1.252 million in matching community funds raised by the Umpqua Valley Tennis Center from individuals, businesses and foundations. Roseburg Parks and Recreation Program Manager Velorie “Val” Ligon secured the state grant that helped launch the overhaul, and Mayor Larry Rich has pointed to the mix of public and private support as key to making the project happen.

The courts also carry real local weight beyond casual rec play. Roseburg High School’s tennis team uses the outdoor courts as its home base, and the renovated complex is expected to help the Umpqua Valley Tennis Center expand tournament play as well as lessons and junior programs. Earlier planning called for about 10 weekend tournaments in 2026, with the potential to draw more than 1,100 participants from beyond 50 miles away. That would turn Stewart Park into more than a neighborhood stop for pickleball: it would make Roseburg a regional destination for players looking for outdoor courts, organized events and a place where the sport can keep growing on a more permanent footing.

The site’s history gives the rebuild extra meaning. The Umpqua Valley Tennis Center says the public facility began in 1959, when a Junior Chamber of Commerce campaign built six outdoor courts with heavy volunteer help, and the site expanded again around 1970 during the tennis boom. Now, after decades of use, the next chapter opens with a larger, more modern complex that should materially improve where Roseburg players can get on court and how often they can keep playing.