Plans for a new pickleball court complex near Denver’s Civic Center Station have been temporarily suspended due to budget restrictions. The consulting firm Stantec had proposed developing six pickleball courts, along with a seating area and a shade canopy, on a half-acre lot adjacent to the Regional Transportation District’s Civic Center Station, located a block west of the Colorado State Capitol.
Jon Ewing, a spokesperson for the project, confirmed that the initiative has been paused. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with RTD and others and are exploring alternative options to activate this property in the future,” he said. The lot, which has remained largely unused, is fenced off and filled with large rocks, surrounded by a few small trees and bushes.
The site, situated at 1523 North Lincoln St., is a drainage area near RTD’s bus stop at Colfax Avenue and Broadway. Originally, Evan Dreyer, the deputy chief of staff for Mayor Mike Johnston, expressed enthusiasm about transforming this neglected space. “That piece of property has sat empty for years and years, and we’re all excited about the possibility of being able to do something really fun and cool there,” he stated in a previous interview with the Denver Post.
City officials are now reevaluating their options for the property. While the pickleball courts remain a possibility, they are also considering other, potentially less expensive alternatives, according to Ewing. The lot is owned by a family trust that has leased it to RTD on a long-term basis. Although RTD has future plans for the lot, it has agreed to allow the city to use it for three to five years.
As the city continues to seek creative ways to utilize this space, the community remains hopeful that plans for recreational facilities will eventually come to fruition.
