New Smyrna Beach City Commission to Consider Pickleball Facility Tuesday

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – The New Smyrna Beach City Commission on Tuesday will consider a measure to appropriate funds for a new pickleball facility. Its budget workshop meeting takes place at 5:15 pm, with a regular meeting at 6:30 pm. If approved, the project would use funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, a 2021 action by U.S. Congress to provide economic stimulus coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pickleball facility does not stand to be finalized on Tuesday, but could take a key step forward. According to a release from the city government, the City Commission will hear a proposal for an engineering services and scope fee from Mead & Hunt, Inc. which would set the plans for the facility into motion. It will be heard alongside other important capital projects, such as improvements to the tower at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport. New Smyrna Beach may soon join a growing list of cities in the Volusia/Flagler area which have leaned into pickleball in recent years. The most notable being the city of Palm Coast, several municipalities have moved to construct pickleball and tennis facilities as the sport becomes increasingly popular nationwide. Seniors have especially taken to the sport, as it provides an opportunity to remain active without excess strain on the knees and joints.