City of Chandler leaders cut the ribbon Sept. 6 for the city’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex at Tumbleweed Park. From the left are Acting City Manager John Pombier, Community Services director John Sefton, Council member Angel Encinas, Parks and Recreation Board member Sue McInturf, 89-year-old pickleball enthusiast and Chandler resident Robert Andring, Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke, Council member Matt Orlando, Vice Mayor Christine Ellis and Council member O.D. Harris.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke raises his hands in leading a round of applause for the city’s expanding recreation options just before the Sept. 6 ribbon-cutting for the city’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex at Tumbleweed Park. From the left are Acting City Manager John Pombier, Council member O.D. Harris, Vice Mayor Christine Ellis, Hartke and Council members Matt Orlando and Angel Encinas.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Dozens of Chandler residents attended the Sept. 6 ribbon-cutting for the city’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex at Tumbleweed Park.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Chadwick Burton of Chandler tries out a warm-up area at the city of Chandler’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex at Tumbleweed Park during Sept. 6 grand-opening activities.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Brigham Burton of Chandler tries out a warm-up area at the city of Chandler’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex at Tumbleweed Park during Sept. 6 grand-opening activities.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Chandler Parks and Recreation Board member Sue McInturf, left, and 89-year-old pickleball enthusiast Robert Andring, right, were among the Chandler residents who were part of a Sept. 6 ribbon-cutting for the city’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex at Tumbleweed Park.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
The city of Chandler’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex is across a driveway from the Tumbleweed Recreation Center.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Eighteen newly completed pickleball courts glistened in the sun Sept. 6 for the city of Chandler.
Fortunately, Mayor Kevin Hartke joked, the city scheduled slightly milder weather for the event — a ribbon-cutting of its $8.5 million outdoor pickleball facility.
The ribbon-cutting took place exactly one year after the groundbreaking. Located on the southeast corner of Germann Road and Pioneer Parkway, the new facility has 18 outdoor pickleball courts with overhead LED lighting, restrooms, practice areas, drinking fountains and its own parking lot.
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parks and recreation
Gallery: Chandler opens pickleball complex
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
City of Chandler leaders cut the ribbon Sept. 6 for the city’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex at Tumbleweed Park. From the left are Acting City Manager John Pombier, Community Services director John Sefton, Council member Angel Encinas, Parks and Recreation Board member Sue McInturf, 89-year-old pickleball enthusiast and Chandler resident Robert Andring, Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke, Council member Matt Orlando, Vice Mayor Christine Ellis and Council member O.D. Harris.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke raises his hands in leading a round of applause for the city’s expanding recreation options just before the Sept. 6 ribbon-cutting for the city’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex at Tumbleweed Park. From the left are Acting City Manager John Pombier, Council member O.D. Harris, Vice Mayor Christine Ellis, Hartke and Council members Matt Orlando and Angel Encinas.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Dozens of Chandler residents attended the Sept. 6 ribbon-cutting for the city’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex at Tumbleweed Park.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Chadwick Burton of Chandler tries out a warm-up area at the city of Chandler’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex at Tumbleweed Park during Sept. 6 grand-opening activities.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Brigham Burton of Chandler tries out a warm-up area at the city of Chandler’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex at Tumbleweed Park during Sept. 6 grand-opening activities.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Chandler Parks and Recreation Board member Sue McInturf, left, and 89-year-old pickleball enthusiast Robert Andring, right, were among the Chandler residents who were part of a Sept. 6 ribbon-cutting for the city’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex at Tumbleweed Park.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
The city of Chandler’s new 18-court outdoor pickleball complex is across a driveway from the Tumbleweed Recreation Center.
Eighteen newly completed pickleball courts glistened in the sun Sept. 6 for the city of Chandler.
Fortunately, Mayor Kevin Hartke joked, the city scheduled slightly milder weather for the event — a ribbon-cutting of its $8.5 million outdoor pickleball facility.
The ribbon-cutting took place exactly one year after the groundbreaking. Located on the southeast corner of Germann Road and Pioneer Parkway, the new facility has 18 outdoor pickleball courts with overhead LED lighting, restrooms, practice areas, drinking fountains and its own parking lot.
Hartke introduced several people at the ribbon-cutting, including John Sefton, the city’s community services director; Parks and Recreation Board member Sue McInturf; and 89-year-old pickleball enthusiast and Chandler resident Robert Andring.
Andring, a 30-year Chandler resident, was described by the mayor as a “well-preserved, well-pickled pickleball player.”
Sefton and Council member Matt Orlando have said multiple times the call for more pickleball courts was from the public and the complex was designed with great amounts of community input.
Those who are new to the sport, or want to refresh their skills, were able work with pickleball instructors the morning of the ribbon-cutting.
The pickleball facility will be open during regular park hours every day, which are 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Courts are available daily for walk-in use unless reserved for city programming.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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