Pickleball Courts Coming to Soda Springs!

The Friends of the Soda Springs City Park (FOTSSCP) are making big changes, within their leadership as well as the Soda Springs community. Three new committee members have jumped onboard the philanthropy train that is the “Friends” nonprofit organization, and are now focusing their vision on a new project at the City Park. 

After successful completion of the fundraising and construction of the Maverik Caribou CommUNITY Playground, payments for and installation of the security system at the playground in partnership with the City of Soda Springs, and most recently the successful completion of their Shade Covers Project to bring shade to that playground; they have decided to continue on with their mission to make the Soda Springs City Park as updated, entertaining, safe and functional as possible. 

City Councilman Ryan Carpenter, Jennifer Squires and James McClatchy have joined the ranks of Laura Lind, Alana Burns and Georgia Brown to tackle their next project: bringing Pickleball courts to Soda Springs! The group’s vision would be focused on the asphalt “parking lot” near the gazebo at the southeast corner of the park. This area was formerly used as tennis courts many years ago and is now used as a parking lot periodically. The Friends plan to turn this area into three regulation sized Pickleball courts with attached areas offering shaded bleacher seating and picnic tables, as comfortable spectator observation areas during games and tournaments. Ultimately, the goal is to have Pickleball leagues filled with people of all ages who compete in tournaments and engage in this low-impact sport; drawing more tourism, boosting business and increasing athleticism in our area. 

Alongside the Pickleball courts on the south side would be a paved area for food and vendor trucks to park. New fencing and landscaping would surround the perimeter of the three courts, and updated outdoor lighting and a newly installed sound system are included in their budget and plans. The estimated cost for this project is $185,000.

That might sound like a hefty bill but it’s one the committee is confident they can achieve by August 2026. The Friends recently submitted their first grant application for a T-Mobile Hometown Grant which the company offers with the intent to revitalize small towns. Soda Springs fits all the criteria for a “small town” in need of revitalization, so the group jumped at the chance to secure a $50,000 grant from the generous organization, which is offering $25 Million towards 500 rural towns throughout the United States to “jumpstart projects and build stronger communities,” according to the grant’s website. The group plans to submit many more grant applications in the coming months, along with various fundraising and sponsorship request efforts. They are also seeking in-kind labor and material donations from area contractors who want to contribute toward the project to better the community, and decrease the overall cost of the project.

Councilman Ryan Carpenter said, “As a council we are excited when our citizens take part in improving our community. We look forward to partnering with them in this very worthwhile endeavor. Personally, I’m grateful to be involved as a committee member of the Pickleball Court Committee of the Friends of the Soda Springs City Park organization and am looking forward to making this vision a reality.” 

If you have recommendations for grants the group can apply for, would like to assist in hosting fundraisers for this project, or would like to offer a sponsorship or material / in-kind labor donation please contact Laura Lind 208-604-0885.