Pickleball could soon replace La Crescent skatepark

The skatepark in La Crescent could be soon replaced for new craze — pickleball.

That variation on tennis is catching on in many area communities and the La Crescent park and rec. commission has put a pickleball court on its to-do list for 2019.

City administrator Bill Waller says recreational facilities at Veteran’s Park need to be improved.

When the city decided to do work at the skate park, city residents requested a place to play pickleball.

“We look at that skatepark and, is there another way it could be used?” city administrator Bill Waller asked. “And pickleball courts is a possibility.”

Pickleball was invented in the 1960s and is similar to tennis and badminton, except that it’s played with solid paddles like ping-pong.

Other proposed park projects for next year in La Crescent include the replacement of outdated playground equipment and a solar-heated swimming pool.