Open court — New pickleball courts in San Benito are enjoying almost instant popularity around town. City of San Benito officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this week, christening the courts. (Courtesy photo/City of San Benito)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
Following input from a recent survey, the City of San Benito unveiled its latest innovation to enhance citizens’ lives: new pickleball courts.
The courts are set along the Osaka Trails at W.H. Heavin Memorial Park in the heart of the city.
A ribbon-cutting was held on Monday, Oct. 20, to officially open the courts, which function similar to tennis courts, but smaller.
Cristina M. Garcia, the City of San Benito’s public relations officer, said it’s a welcome addition for the citizens who live near the courts at the intersection of Diaz and Bravo streets, as well as those who walk the adjacent trails.
“Someone is going to have to teach me how to play; it’s something different,” San Benito Mayor Rick Guerra said. “Honesty, I’m more of a basketball guy,” he quipped.
Akin to the other parks and recreational facilities that have been built this year, such as a new restroom and fitness court, the mayor urged residents to “take care of this because it’s for you, the residents.”
Leading up to the ceremony, Commissioner Pedro A. Galvan advised the mayor about the sport so he would be informed before speaking. In fact, Galvan, after the ribbon-cutting, took part in a demonstration so visitors could see what the game was like.
He teamed up with Edgar Navares, who is with the RGV Pickleball Association Team.
“I just happen always to have my pickleball equipment in my car,” Navares said. “Let’s play so others can see how it’s played.”
During his speech, Galvan said the area, among other areas along the resaca, where the pickleball court is located, was donated by the Heavin family in 2012.
“There’s actually a V. Glen White Memorial Pavilion, which some people don’t know the location of, but now with the pickleball court is here, hopefully more will now know where all this is at and who Glen White and the Heavin family are,” Galvan said.
When Commissioner Deborah A. Morales spoke, she credited the city staff, specifically both the parks and recreation and public works departments.
“We (city commission) may make the decisions, but you put it into action,” Morales said, crediting more than a dozen city employees who were on hand.
San Benito Parks and Recreation Director Eloy Avila and Coordinator Jose Ramos said this upgrade will be hopefully attract ages varying from high school to senior adults.
“The kids this afternoon who usually play weekdays, they’re going to see something great coming out of school,” Ramos said. “This was a reimagining and after some discussion and viewing the surveys we did for the parks, there is a tennis and pickleball community here in San Benito. We want to bring people here, keep people here, versus people going to other cities to look for wants and needs.”
Both said the adjacent V. Glen White Memorial Pavilion, which has sometimes suffered graffiti, will be taken care of by the city upon receiving concerns or complaints.
According to the City of San Benito, the funds to pay for the pickleball construction, which took less than two days, came from the San Benito Police Department’s child safety fees.
According to the RGV Pickleball Association Team website, pickleball is a racket or paddle sport in which two players (singles) or four players (doubles) use a smooth-faced paddle to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a 34-inch-high net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits a rule infraction.
Pickleball is played indoors and outdoors. It was invented in 1965 as a children’s backyard game in the United States, on Bainbridge Island, Washington.
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