Carson residents and USA Pickleball Ambassadors Dave Whitefield, left, and Juan Beguelin at the pickleball courts they organized to create in Mills Park on Thursday. After gusty winds, they said they would be cleaning the courts of fall leaves this weekend.
Carson City is in the process of becoming a pickleball destination thanks to passionate players, a local nonprofit and the support of the Board of Supervisors.
Thursday, supervisors unanimously approved a $1.07 million contract with Spanish Springs Construction Inc. to replace two dilapidated tennis courts behind the aquatic center in Mills Park with six post-tension-concrete pickleball courts.
Both for the contract and for approval of $170,790 in Community Development Block Grant funding for the project, the audience in the boardroom broke into applause. According to Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Budge, demolition could begin this winter with the new courts available by late spring or early summer, depending on weather.
“We now have pickleball courts coming our way,” said Mayor Lori Bagwell. “I know that was a lot of work and processes. Just on the record, I really want to thank David and Juana for spearheading for years all your efforts to bring pickleball to the community, to teach people. You’re always willing to give your time. I’ve even seen you working on your hands and knees repairing cracks. And fundraising. And really being a good partner for the community.”
The two people thanked by the mayor were in attendance: Dave Whitefield and Juana Beguelin. They were the couple who began a campaign six years ago with the Foundation for Carson City Parks and Recreation, a nonprofit, and with the parks department to convert the other two tennis courts in the park into eight pickleball courts. That project was completed in 2019 and involved significant volunteer labor hours and fundraising.
Scott Neuffer / Nevada AppealThe couple took the Appeal on a tour of the existing courts after the hearing Thursday. While the courts are busy during the warm season, often with a line waiting to play, they are not ideal for tournament play, they said. The new courts will be set up for tournaments, for visitors and residents alike, bringing the number of outdoor pickleball courts at Mills Park to 14.
“We’ve been very passionate,” Beguelin said.
She maintained pickleball is for all ages, and they’ve seen ages 5-80 utilizing the current courts.
“It’s a sport that levels things out,” added Whitefield, who sits on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission.
The new project has been allocated $421,850 in ARPA dollars, according to a fiscal impact statement from the city. Because ARPA funds were allocated in 2021, the project was not eligible for the recent $14.9 million grant award through the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act.
Whitefield and Beguelin take care of the existing courts and have been fundraising with the foundation to provide amenities for the new courts like shade structures and benches. Post-tension concrete, Whitefield said, will keep the new courts from cracking and will make the area in the park safer.
Although they have taken the lead on pickleball courts, it’s been a community effort, Whitefield said.
“It’s the fastest growing sport in the world,” added Beguelin.
For the Carson City Pickleball Facebook group, visit
https://www.facebook.com/groups/242082114153108.
Courtesy
Volunteers coating the existing pickleball courts at Mills Park in 2020.
In other action:
• Supervisors unanimously approved a petition for creating the Lompa Ranch North Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) “for the maintenance of landscaping within drainage facilities in the planned Lompa Ranch North development,” according to the agenda, along with assessments on property owners within the neighborhood effective July 1, 2025.
Supervisors also approved the first reading of an ordinance for a development agreement between developers and the city to implement the LMD. Bagwell explained developers would cover assessments until parcels sell and become the responsibility of homeowners in the neighborhood.
“It never was envisioned as a city responsibility,” said Bagwell. “When we approved this project, it was always the homeowners’ responsibility, and that was known from day one.”
More information: https://d2kbkoa27fdvtw.cloudfront.net/carsoncity/65a17295f6563c5c788ad202e99070ea0.pdf.
• Facing a new legislative cycle in 2025, supervisors unanimously ratified a revised bill draft request (BDR) from the city concerning the Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway Act of 1993.
Carson City Public Information Officer Cameron Gresh said chances of passing a previous version calling for the state to allocate staff for the V&T Commission — instead of using city resources — became “increasingly murky.”
He said the revised BDR got support from Storey County. It proposes that the Nevada Legislature's Interim Committee on Growth and Infrastructure “conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Commission, including its structure, duties, powers and financial viability, and make recommendations for legislation relating thereto, including whether the Commission should be reorganized, terminated or have its duties modified,” according to the city.
• Supervisors unanimously adopted two ordinances, on second reading, updating Title 18 in city code dealing with zoning and the title’s appendix containing the city’s development standards.
Supervisors unanimously approved the first reading of the two ordinances on Oct. 3.
The update arose from a years-long process between the District Attorney’s Office, Community Development and various board meetings to make zoning and development code clearer and consistent.
It also made some substantive policy changes including accessory dwelling units (guest houses) no longer being restricted to family members and allowing one metal storage container, aka a CONEX box, on a residential lot half an acre or bigger with certain setback requirements and other restrictions.