Destin council votes to move forward with pickleball courts off Indian Bayou Trail

The Destin City Council voted unanimously to start the process for building pickleball courts next to the City Hall Annex off Indian Bayou Trail. 

After months of discussions about where to put pickleball courts in Destin, the council finally made the decision at the Aug. 21 meeting to put them next to the annex, which was originally mapped out for tennis courts. 

They will start with four courts with the possibility of more in the future.  

Council member Teresa Hebert made the motion to accept the proposal from Jenkins Engineering to design and permit the pickleball complex, parking addition and improvements, and additional survey work for the lump sum of $51,400. 

The 2.7-acre lot where the courts will go is uncleared. The work will involve engineering design and permitting for approximately 11 pickleball courts, one tennis court, one basketball court, a restroom/office building, revised parking at the City Hall Annex associated with the infrastructure, according to the Jenkins Engineering proposal. 

Council member Jim Bagby said he would like to see at least two of the courts covered. 

“I don’t care if it cost us one court,” he said, noting he was outside this past weekend in the heat. 

“It was brutal,” Bagby said. 

Temperatures around Destin in recent days have reached the high 90s. 

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Council member Johnny King wanted to push the design to accommodate as many courts as possible. 

The vote was unanimous to move forward with the pickleball complex. 

Mayor Bobby Wagner, who has been a big proponent of securing pickleball courts for Destin, said the city is working on a grant to help with the cost for the first phase of the project.