A $500,000-plus project to replace the Jim & Michelle Berger Pickleball Courts at Jokerst Memorial Park in Festus is underway.
The old courts were demolished Jan. 8, and the new courts are expected to be ready for use in the spring, said Jim Berger of Crystal City, a pickleball proponent and the director for the U.S. Pickleball organization’s Middle States Region.
Festus officials named the city’s pickleball courts after Berger and his wife.
Josh Whaley, the Festus director of parks and recreation, said the new courts will have the same name.
In October, the Festus City Council awarded a $498,090 contract for the replacement project to McConnell & Associates, an asphalt pavement company with an office in Pevely. The bid included the demolition, as well as a post-tension court overlay that will expand the facility from six to eight courts. The company also will install new fencing and lights and will pave the parking lot.
On Jan. 8, the council approved a $28,710 change order for the project for additional sidewalk, fencing, wind screens and electrical work. The change order brings the total cost of the project to $526,800.
Berger said the Jokerst Park pickleball courts have been consistently packed with players since the courts were converted for pickleball use in 2015. Originally tennis courts, the facility later was a skateboard park before becoming pickleball courts.
“People have been playing morning to night,” Berger said. “From April to November (2023), we had in excess of 25,000 players at the Jokerst courts. It could be some of the players were there more than once, but there were usually lines of people waiting to get on the courts. Even during the winter, people will come out as long as it gets to 40 or 50 degrees.”
He said the players who use the Jokerst pickleball courts, including many from outside Festus, will appreciate the new facility.
“It will be fantastic not only for the local population, but for the players it draws to town from around the region,” Berger said.
Berger and Festus Ward 2 Councilman Brian Wehner reviewed the plans for the new pickleball courts, and Berger said he believes the project will take a relatively short amount of time to complete, weather permitting.
Greg Camp, the Festus city administrator, said the contract with McConnell & Associates has a June 1 deadline for the project’s completion.
“I anticipate them finishing sooner,” he said.