Sue Hays cut the red ribbon at the newly constructed Pickleball courts at the City of Paris Sports Complex on Friday, Nov. 1.
Because of her efforts to secure donations to build the new complex, the board of Paris Texas Pickleball, Inc. and the Paris City Council agreed to dedicate the complex in honor of Hays.
The ceremony was held in conjunction with the start of the weekend-long inaugural Paris Classic Pickleball Tournament.
Joshua Geer emceed the ribbon cutting ceremony, including remarks from Paris Texas Pickleball board member Glen Bawcum and Paris Mayor Mihir Pankaj.
Bawcum announced the naming of the courts and unveiled a monument dedicating them in honor of Hays.
As the sport’s popularity grew nationwide and caught on in Paris, several churches hosted matches in their gyms.
Based on requests by Hays and others, the City of Paris Parks Department converted two tennis courts at Culbertson Park into four Pickleball courts.
With play on all the area courts happening most days and late into the evenings, Hays set out to add more.
The Paris Texas Pickleball group, with Hays in the lead, secured donations and grants while working with the City of Paris to select a location for the eight-court complex.
Featuring lighting, wind fence, covered seating areas for players and spectators, and handicap accessibility, the Sue Hays Pickleball Complex is considered state-of-the-art.
To learn more about Pickleball in Paris, visit www.ParisTexas.gov/Pickleball, where you’ll find area court locations, links to local Pickleball groups, and more information about the sport.
