By Soncirey Mitchell
Reader Staff
James E. Russell Sports Center court layout. Courtesy of city of Sandpoint.
Community members discuss the James E. Russell Sports Center court layout. Photo by Soncirey Mitchell.
The Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Department hosted an open house March 13 to display the chosen court layout for the James E. Russell Sports Center and invite feedback from the public.
The final of the three potential layouts features a total of 14 pickleball courts interspersed between and overlaid on four tennis courts. The different courts will be distinguished by color — white lines for tennis, light blue for pickleball — all atop a blue surface. All courts are ADA-accessible.
According to the city’s slideshow presentation, the chosen layout maximizes space while maintaining a safe distance between players. The addition of three moveable nets will also allow users to convert the space to accommodate a wider range of games and activities.
The space also includes five restrooms, a lobby and a 50-person community room that opens onto a covered outdoor plaza.
The project is scheduled to be completed in late 2024.
Community members who weren’t able to submit written comments or questions at the open house are encouraged to email them to [email protected] or Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm at [email protected].
View the layout at bit.ly/48Yu1Xo.
While we have you ...
... if you appreciate that access to the news, opinion, humor, entertainment and cultural reporting in the Sandpoint Reader is freely available in our print newspaper as well as here on our website, we have a favor to ask. The Reader is locally owned and free of the large corporate, big-money influence that affects so much of the media today. We're supported entirely by our valued advertisers and readers. We're committed to continued free access to our paper and our website here with NO PAYWALL - period. But of course, it does cost money to produce the Reader. If you're a reader who appreciates the value of an independent, local news source, we hope you'll consider a voluntary contribution. You can help support the Reader for as little as $1.
You can contribute at either Paypal or Patreon.
Contribute at Patreon Contribute at Paypal
Coming up this week! Don’t miss out on Online Auctions, Purse Parties, Parties, Craft Fairs, and more! See the full list of events in the 
