Pelican Bay Community Park opens 20 new pickleball courts

Collier County and pickleball fans now have 20 new courts to play on, courtesy of a public-private partnership between the county and Pelican Bay Foundation.  

Pelican Bay Community Park pickleball and tennis courts opened in December after nearly a decade of planning and negotiations. Parks officials said the facility offers 20 Novacrylic pickleball courts that combine best-in-class facilities, programs, services and experiences unmatched by any other center countywide.   

In addition to pickleball courts and a new ADA-compliant playground, staff increased parking increased to 109 spaces and added two new Har-Tru clay tennis courts where racquetball / handball courts were. Six Har-Tru clay tennis courts were refurbished. All are sub-irrigated, lighted hydro-grid courts. The baseball/softball practice area was relocated, infrastructure was added for future lighting and a building was added that provides a pro shop, a maintenance area, restrooms and a shaded area for waiting pickleball players.  

The improvements were fully paid for by the foundation.   

Ten pickleball courts are open for public use, while 10 are set aside for Pelican Bay residents.  

The North Naples park was originally deeded to the county in 1994 as a community park by Pelican Bay developer WCI as part of an agreement to build more densely in the 6,500-home luxury community — and the park hadn’t been updated since. Under a contract with Collier County, which owns the nearly 15-acre park on Vanderbilt Beach Road, the foundation agreed to spend $7 million to add improvements, including to the playground and tennis courts, and build pickleball courts.  

The foundation took over tennis court concessions and management from the prior vendor in April 2024 and commissioners formalized the contract that August, agreeing the foundation would manage racket-support activities and maintenance and make capital improvements under a 30-year land lease.   

The county will maintain the property, including the playground and green space, while the foundation will manage the rest, including nets, lighting, resurfacing courts and managing courts. That will cost the foundation about $400,000 annually, including staffing and an ambassador to oversee matches.   

Pelican Bay residents and the public can reserve pickleball and tennis courts at bit.ly/pbcpcourtreservations or use the Chelsea app.