A plan to convert two underutilized tennis courts at the Marco Island Racquet Center into seven pickleball courts has been tossed by Marco Island City Council. In a unanimous vote on November 18th, the Marco Island City Council rejected two contractor bids to build the courts, which came in at $1.7 million and $2.1 million — far exceeding the approved $768,000 budget.
“It was $1 million higher than we anticipated. We don’t have that million dollars. We need a Plan B. Maybe we can’t do the full seven courts we planned, but we have to figure out a way to augment these courts," said Greg Folley, a former city councilman and pickleball enthusiast.
Pickleball’s popularity has exploded on Marco Island, with hundreds of players regularly using the existing courts, despite long wait times during high season.
“There’s enormous demand compared to supply, particularly during season. We already have several hundred people on the waiting list wanting to play. The more courts we have, the demand is immediately there to fill it," Folley said.
For many residents, pickleball has become an everyday activity, and players far outnumber those who use the tennis facilities at the Club.
“We play six, seven days a week, a couple hours a day. It’s competitive, but it’s also camaraderie. During high season, it’s a 20-minute wait between games. Meanwhile, the tennis courts aren’t being used," said Mark Utecht, a pickleball player and Marco Island resident.
"This is more social than tennis. You’re closer to the net, there’s more interaction, and it really builds a community. We have 500 of our closest friends who play together, and when someone is sick or hurt, we rally around them. It’s a good thing to do as you get older," added Jim Defrell, another resident and player.
Despite the setback, players like Folley are urging city leaders to revisit the issue and explore alternative solutions, including scaled-down projects or potential fundraising efforts.
“We’ve got $700,000 allocated. I don’t want that money to go back into the general fund. Let’s focus on pickleball and see if there’s a possibility of raising some additional money from the community," Folley said.
Residents plan on raising the issue to Marco Island City Council at their next meeting on Dec. 8. Public comment is encouraged.
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