Pickleball/futsal excavation to start; dog park access altered
Court construction expected by August at Ephrata Sports Complex.
EPHRATA — Initial work is scheduled to begin Monday, April 13, for construction of pickleball and basketball/futsal courts at the Ephrata Sports Complex, city officials announced this morning.
Tommer Construction Co. will begin grading and drainage excavation in preparation of building a large concrete pad that will accommodate six pickleball courts and the futsal facility near the city’s Splash Zone water park. In addition, there will be an asphalt-paved area for about 80 vehicle parking spaces.
Initial construction is expected to be completed later this summer, possibly in the first week of August. A second phase that includes adding an overhead cover is anticipated by spring 2027, the city said in today’s press release.
While construction is ongoing, the skate park, outside restrooms and a portion of the sports complex will be closed to public access for an estimated two months.
The city dog park to the south will remain open, but reconfigured, and visitors will need to enter via a side gate accessed from Lee Street S.E. Unlike the main entrance, the side gate is not a controlled pet gate so patrons are asked to ensure the gate is properly latched when they enter and exit. Vehicle parking is limited in the area, and a portion of the dog park will be altered by construction, temporarily eliminating separated spaces for small and larger dogs.
"As construction begins, our top priority is making sure the area remains as safe as possible for the public while still maintaining access to the dog park during this transition,” Ephrata parks and recreation director Josh Johnson said in the press statement.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as we work through these temporary changes and prepare for a long-term space for our community and their pets,” he said.
Ultimately, plans call for permanently relocating the dog park to nearby Lee Park within the next few months. City officials say the new area will be improved to create “a more attractive and functional space for dogs to run and play” while providing more room at the sports complex for field sports, recreation programs, and tournaments.
Tommer Construction submitted an apparent low bid of $527,251 that was accepted last month by the Ephrata City Council for the project, which had an estimated construction cost of $750,000. It involves building a large concrete pad about the size of a regulation football field for the various courts.
The Paul Lauzier Foundation is a major contributor toward the project, providing $100,000 annually over four years. The city also plans to seek state grant funding. And the Columbia Basin Foundation has established an “Ephrata Pickleball Courts” special project fund which accepts donations to benefit the effort.
A group of pickleball enthusiasts have lobbied city officials since early 2023 to consider adding court space in a local park as a recreational amenity for the community.
Futsal is a five-a-side indoor soccer variation played on a hard court with a smaller, heavier ball. Pickleball is a paddle sport for up to four players, combining elements of tennis and badminton while using a plastic wiffle ball on a smaller court with a lower net.
