Boulder plans first dedicated public pickleball complex near Reservoir
Boulder is building 12 dedicated pickleball courts near Boulder Reservoir, a sign the sport is moving from overflow use to destination status.
Boulder moved a step closer to its first dedicated public pickleball complex at Tom Watson Park, near Boulder Reservoir, with plans for 12 lighted courts built as a purpose-made facility rather than another repainting job on shared tennis space. The city said the existing four tennis courts at the site will remain, but the new complex is meant to relieve pressure on the courts people are already fighting over.
That pressure is the real story behind the project. Boulder’s court plan says some players do not want to share tennis courts with pickleball because of the multiple court lines and the difficulty of hosting sanctioned league or tournament play on shared surfaces. The city chose Tom Watson Park in part because it is underutilized and has no nearby neighbors, making it a cleaner fit for dedicated pickleball than the busier mixed-use sites that have caused more friction around town.
The first phase now centers on the 12 pickleball courts, accessible walkways and resurfacing the adjacent basketball court. City materials list the broader project timeline as winter 2024/25 design, spring 2026 build and summer 2026 completion. A city update said permits were still under review and that construction was expected to take about four months after groundbreaking. Phase two would add demolition of the existing restroom, a new restroom facility, a community gathering plaza and resurfaced parking if funding comes through.
The Tom Watson Park complex sits inside a larger Boulder push to rebalance its court inventory. In 2024, the city finalized its Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan after community engagement that began in October 2023. That plan recommended investing $400,000 a year for six years to improve existing courts and, over time, adding 22 dedicated tennis courts and 22 dedicated pickleball courts citywide. In February 2025, Boulder said it planned up to 12 pickleball courts and eight tennis courts at East Boulder Community Park, while CU’s Balch Fieldhouse indoor tennis courts were opened to community reservations seven days a week.
For pickleball travelers, the shift matters. PLAY Boulder Foundation says the Tom Watson Park project has more than $2.8 million in capital investment from Boulder Parks and Recreation, with about $500,000 per project being sought for amenities beyond base city funding. That kind of infrastructure, set near a landmark like Boulder Reservoir, points toward a future where a weekend in Boulder can be built around court time, not squeezed in around it.
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