FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 11, 2025

Pickleball Court Improvements Project at Loughran Park to Begin August 18, 2025

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble and the Kingston Parks & Recreation Department are pleased to announce that the Loughran Park Tennis/Pickleball Facility Improvements Project will begin on Monday, August 18, 2025.

The Loughran Park Tennis/Pickleball Facility Improvements Project maintains the existing footprint of the courts, improves subgrade conditions, adds green infrastructure practices to improve drainage, and increases player capacity. Construction work will include demolition of the existing tennis/pickleball courts and fencing and the installation of two tennis and eight pickleball asphalt courts, fencing, and bioretention swale landscaping. Pickleball sound mitigation is part of this project, including installing sound barriers at the pickleball courts, switching the pickleball and tennis court locations, and prohibiting pickleball play on the tennis courts.

Mayor Noble said. “Pickleball has become increasingly popular over the last several years, and our residents have been asking for new courts. We are excited to deliver a great project that will modernize the tennis and pickleball complex at Loughran Park, and includes sound mitigation for nearby neighbors. We ask for pickleball fans’ patience during this project, which, once completed, will serve residents and visitors for generations to come.” 

Arold Construction Company of Kingston has been contracted for the construction work, which is expected to begin with securing the construction zone with temporary fencing on Monday, August 18, 2025, and begin demolition of the old courts and fencing that week. Construction hours will be Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 3:30pm. During construction, the tennis and pickleball facilities will be closed to the public, but the remainder of the park will be open.

Parks and Recreation Director Lynsey Timbrouck said, “I am thrilled for the kick-off of this much anticipated project! These improvements will be another step in providing safe and enjoyable recreation facilities and green spaces for the community and visitors, which is of the utmost importance to our department.”

Ward 6 Alderman Bob Dennison said, “We are pleased that the construction will start shortly and ask for our pickleball players to be understanding. The new courts which include noise mitigation will be a great addition to our park.”

PSM Consulting LLC recently conducted a study to understand the pickleball sound, measure sound levels, and determine appropriate mitigation methods for the Loughran Park project. The study listed several mitigation recommendations including the installation of sound reflective barriers and upgrading the height and strength of the fencing, which have been incorporated into the project. The noise mitigation study can be found here.

Project Manager Jack Schoonmaker said, “It is exciting to be breaking ground on this project, three years in the making. I want to thank the pickleball community for their patience and assistance in developing this plan.”

Construction is expected to be completed in November 2025. Funding for this project came from the City of Kingston Recreation Trust Fund. More information at www.engagekingston.com/pickleball