Eagle River Pickleball Association Seeks 1.5 to 2 Acres for 10 Courts

Players at Riverview Park are routinely facing 20-minute waits during peak summer hours, and the Eagle River Pickleball Association has launched an active search for about 1.5 to 2 acres of land within three to five miles of downtown Eagle River to build 10 state-of-the-art outdoor pickleball courts to ease that pressure. Denny Erardi, vice president of ERPA and chairperson of the new court development committee, framed the move as necessary to expand play beyond cramped facilities built around 2009.

Erardi says the association wants a site with utilities in place; it "would ideally have water and electricity easily accessible," and ERPA's brief listing even includes the fragment "ideally includes utilities and parki" as part of its search materials. The group prefers locations close to downtown to keep courts convenient for local players and school partnerships.

The proposal responds directly to physical limits at Riverview Park. Built around 2009, the existing courts lack space behind baselines and between courts, and there is limited parking, Erardi notes, which contributes to those summertime lineups. ERPA intends the new courts to be open to the public and aims to "cater to kids and potentially partner with local schools," positioning the facility for broad community use rather than private-club access.

ERPA is clear on acquisition options: the association would welcome donated land or a nominal sale but has budget flexibility to buy if necessary. As Erardi put it, "We're actively looking for property right now, and ideally it would be delightful if somebody wanted to donate that property or make a nominal sale, something less than fair market value, but we're prepared for that not to happen and to need to come out of pocket to purchase to purchase land." That duplicative phrasing reflects ERPA's public appeal for help from local landowners.

ERPA has circulated a design rendering of the planned 10-court facility credited to Denny Erardi, and officials emphasize public access and youth programming as core goals. Erardi also framed local demand in national context: "Pickleball is currently the fastest growing sport in the country, and the North Woods is a reflection of that trend as well."

Specifics still to be determined include project timeline, budget, parking requirements for the new site, and detailed amenities such as lighting, restrooms, or surface type. ERPA has not released a list of candidate parcels or a construction schedule; those details will follow as site options emerge and negotiations proceed.

Landowners or community members with potential parcels or questions can contact Denny Erardi at dcerardi@comcast.net or 925-785-8953, or Jane Jones, ERPA president, at Janiejones10@icloud.com. ERPA says moving beyond Riverview Park is a priority this season to reduce wait times and create a permanent home that can serve kids, schools, and the broader Eagle River playing community.