Manhattan Park District Explores Pickleball Expansion at Round Barn Farm

Manhattan Park Board Meeting | October 9, 2025

Article Summary:
The Manhattan Park Board is considering adding more pickleball courts at Round Barn Farm to meet current demand, but a final decision has been deferred until the 2025/2026 budget process. Options discussed include the lower-cost conversion of a tennis court into two pickleball courts or the more expensive construction of four brand-new courts.

Pickleball Courts Key Points:

• The district is reviewing the current usage of its pickleball and tennis courts.

• One option involves converting a tennis court into two dedicated pickleball courts.

• A second, more costly option is to construct four new pickleball courts from scratch.

• The board determined the decision will be revisited as part of the upcoming budget cycle.

MANHATTAN, IL – As the popularity of pickleball continues to grow, the Manhattan Park Board on Thursday, October 9, 2025, began discussions on how to expand court availability at Round Barn Farm, though any action will wait for the next budget cycle.

Executive Director Jay Kelly opened the discussion by explaining the current usage of the park’s pickleball courts and presenting cost estimates for two potential expansion options.

The first option would involve converting an existing tennis court into two permanent pickleball courts. A second, more ambitious plan would be to construct four new pickleball courts from the ground up.

After discussing the options, the board determined that the decision should be tied to the district’s 2025/2026 budget process. The item will be revisited at that time for further consideration.