THATCHER — The popularity of the sport of pickleball has some Thatcher residents asking for more places to play.
At the most recent Town Council meeting, Debbie Turley asked the council if there was a way to add more courts at the new recreation complex at Reay Lane and 8th Street.
“Sometimes there will up to 20 people waiting to play pickleball. Especially on Friday mornings or Saturday, where we have the eight people playing and then we’ll have up to 10 to 12 paddles just lined up,” Turley said.
She explained that before the courts were built at the complex, players jumped around to various tennis courts, first at an apartment complex, then to Daley Estates and finally to Eastern Arizona College. However, none of those courts are designed for pickleball and temporary lines would be pulled up or washed away by rains.

Town Manager Heath Brown explained that more courts could be added, but it would impact the design of the park — either putting the new courts down into the catch basin north of the current park, moving the playground equipment into the catch basin to allow new courts to be developed next to the existing courts, or remove some of the parking for the new courts.
In October 2021, it was discussed the town and Thatcher School District could enter into an agreement to convert into pickleball courts the outdoor basketball court near the high school tennis courts. Cost would be about $45,000 including lights. However, the council expressed reservations about public accessibility during school hours.
No decision was made on Turley’s request, instead the council asked for the issue to come back during a work session where more information can be offered.