Chicago Park District Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Welles Park to Celebrate Opening of 3 New Pickleball Courts & Upgrades to the Horseshoe Pits and Volleyball Court

Ceremony to take place by horseshoe pits on Monday, October 7 at 9 a.m.

CHICAGO - The Chicago Park District will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the newest multiple recreational additions and upgrades at Welles Park, located at 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave., in the Lincoln Square community, on Monday, October 7 at 9 a.m. Featuring three new pickleball courts and multiple upgrades to the historic horseshoe pits and volleyball court, these improvements intend to ensure the community has access to the best amenities only found in Chicago parks.

This $400,000 project funds the improvement of popular park spaces and the addition of new ones to enrich recreational offerings to the community.

"Welles Park is a historic location that has welcomed generations of visitors to play in our parks with one-of-a-kind offerings including the newly renovated horseshoe pits," said Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño. "Today, with input from the community and support from our local Alderman, we are making significant strides to ensure that this park continues to be a hub of recreation in the city by adding new amenities while keeping the spirit of what has made it special to this community for nearly 100 years."

Welles Park has offered patrons the option to play horseshoe at the pits since 1930. The Park District has upgraded this playful attraction with new clay, artificial turf, stakes, backboards, and repairs to the existing concrete to ensure that this unique experience will continue to be available to the next generation of park visitors.

In addition to the horseshoe pits, a revamped volleyball court will also be unveiled at the ribbon cutting. Volleyball is among one of the more popular recreational activities offered at parks citywide. The Welles Park court received new sand, posts, netting, and a concrete curb to allow Chicagoans to bring a bit of the beach activity right to their local park.

Equally as important, pickleball continues to see an uptick in popularity around the country, including a surging player base throughout Chicago. To meet the demand, the Park District launched Pickleball Mania, which has a goal of opening 200 courts by 2025. The three brand-new pickleball courts at Welles Park are part of the nearly 100 that are either already open or will be completed this year.

"I am so excited for the addition of the pickle ball courts, which will further Welles Park's mission to keep our community active and engaged. A special thank you to our Youth Council, the Park Advisory Council and local advocates for helping this project come to life. We are lucky to have a park with so many wonderful amenities, which will continue to serve generations to come," said Alderman Matt Martin, 47th ward.

All Park District projects are intended to provide the people of Chicago with the best possible options for recreation right in their neighborhood parks. Whether that is testing your skills with a paddle on the new pickleball courts, setting yourself up for success on the sand at the volleyball court, or enjoying a popular game from the past in the horseshoe pits, these improvements ensure there is something for all park patrons to enjoy.