Recreation Advisory Board recommends pickleball site shift

Published 9:42 pm Monday, March 9, 2026

THOMASVILLE — The Recreation Advisory Board met on Monday afternoon, where they voted to recommend to City Council to reallocate the proposed $70,000 outlaid for the Remington Park pickleball courts to Cherokee Park, where they envision a 16-court pickleball facility.

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. It combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong.

For many, it has been considered more than just a game. It has become a growing movement reshaping how people connect, stay active, and build stronger communities.

In the 2026 Capital Budget, City Council set aside $70,000 for four pickleball courts at Remington Park. The plan would be to demolish the old pickleball courts adjacent to the tennis courts and build anew. However, representatives from the Thomasville GA Pickleball Association (TGAPA), a local nonprofit dedicated to growing the sport of pickleball in Thomasville and Thomas County, had a different vision.

TGAPA has served as the primary voice for expanding court access and improving facilities.

President of TGAPA and Chairman of the Recreation Advisory Board, Herb Williams, explained that currently TGAPA hosts open play at the Thomas County Middle School courts every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday morning. During open play, all six courts are open, and they see anywhere from 45-50 people, excluding the people who are not a part of TGAPA. For this reason, Williams does not feel adding only four courts at an already bustling park, where parking can sometimes be at a premium, would drive the sport.

“There’s just enough space there,” Williams said.

So, he, along with other members from the Advisory Board, has asked for the money to be invested in an alternate location that TGAPA has identified for a pickleball court facility at Cherokee Park.

This location would allow for 16 courts, tournaments, a concession stand, and bring about an economic impact, while furnishing all of the recreation needs Thomasville and Thomas County have for pickleball as well.

“Pickleball people really love tournaments,” Williams said. “That’s something we would love to see and believe it could have a real economic impact.”

Williams said, if approved, this would top off eight years of hard work trying to get new courts in Thomasville.

“The current administration has been extremely helpful,” he said. “They are really behind this.”

Williams shared that City Manager Chris White even suggested Cherokee Park as a possible venue for the pickleball site when discussing where they could put it.

“We just think it’s such a great spot, geographically within the city, and there’s plenty of room,” Williams said.

Williams envisions this facility as being one of the best pickleball court sites below Macon, if everything goes according to plan.

He understands that the City cannot divert all of its funding into this type of facility, which is why TGAPA is steadily fundraising to match funds, with donors offering to do some of the construction and contracting work as well.

“We are in the process of laying the groundwork and doing some fundraising, so the city won’t have to bear all of the cost of it,” Williams said.

Understanding the reasoning, a motion was made to advise the City Council to reallocate their $70,000 into the Cherokee Park location.