When will these courts be completed and ready for play?
The completion date for this project will depend on how quickly we can receive grants and private donations to fund this project. Our goal is to have the courts at Camano Pavilion completed and ready for play by Q3 2027, but it could be a later date if our fundraising efforts fall behind schedule. If very fortunate with fundraising, the date could be substantially earlier.

Where will these courts be located?
They will be located at Camano Park, just 150 feet north of the current tennis / PB courts, on the north side of the Multipurpose building.

How many courts will there be?
Four fenced / gated courts. One of the four courts will be designed to be accessible for wheelchair play with 5 feet additional margins all around.

Will the courts be covered? Lighted?
Covered, but not fully enclosed. Lighted to USA Pickleball Tournament Standards.

Will there be parking available?
Yes. We will not need to install any additional parking spaces because parking currently exists right next to these courts.
How will these courts be similar to / different from the Blackburn covered courts at Skagit Valley College?
The final design has not been completed, but it will be similar to Blackburn but on a smaller scale (4 courts vs. 10). There will also be room for limited seating around the courts.

Who will pay for the cost to build these courts?
This is a public-private partnership between the CSPA and Island County. Island County is donating the land (which has a value, we estimate, in the vicinity of $1.5 million). In addition,
Island County has tentatively earmarked $220,00 to cover the entire cost of the design phase of this project and has tentatively included this project’s design in their 2026 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), with an intention to put the design out to bid in early 2026. This funding is not yet guaranteed, as the 2026 CIP budget won’t be finalized until January 2026, but it is an extremely encouraging sign that the county appears to be strongly supportive of this initiative.
We also benefit from the currently available access roads, parking, existing utilities and the adjacent 6 courts we already use part of the time. CSPA has and will apply for government and foundation grants, as well as launch a capital campaign to raise donations from private donors and corporate sponsors to cover the project cost.

How much will this project cost?
Our estimate is that it will cost approximately $1.5 million to design and construct four covered, lighted courts. But of this amount, Island County has tentatively agreed to cover $220,000 (the approximate cost of designing the facility). In addition, Island County has committed to an additional $100,000 to improve the overall environment of the Camano Park complex, including re-surfacing the tennis courts and making improvements to the ball field and surrounding area, to make the entire park updated and more attractive.

Why can’t you just cover the current tennis courts instead?
Given the proximity of the current tennis / PB courts to the little league ball field to the west, the medical building to the south, and the parking lot to the east, there is not enough room to install a roof to cover the current courts without impacting these other facilities.

Who will be allowed to use these courts?
As this is a partnership project with Island County on their property, the courts, once completed, will be open to the public. We are proposing that at least one of the 4 courts is always open to public play.

 

Will CSPA members have any priority play rights?
As part of our partnership with Island County, CSPA will negotiate specific times for Priority Play for 3 courts to be available to CPSA members. The current proposal is to have morning and evening times for CSPA priority play.
How late in the evening can people play on these courts?
We have proposed hours of play to be from 7am to 10pm seven days a week.

 

Why should someone who does not play pickleball care about this project?
This facility will be a wonderful asset to the greater Camano Island – Stanwood communities. Tournaments will attract players of all ages from other regions, which will be a positive for area retailers and restaurants, as well as homeowners who use VRBO or Air B&B for income. Even if you do not personally play at this time, visiting guests and family may enjoy the opportunity to play.

This recreational upgrade increases opportunities for year-round, active exercise for the Camano / Stanwood / community, contributing to a healthier community.

Who is in charge of building these courts?
While the CSPA is responsible for obtaining the funding most of this project, actual design and construction will be managed by Island County, in accordance with WA State Laws, with close input from the CSPA.

Who will be responsible for maintaining the courts?
Maintenance of the courts will be a shared responsibility between our club and Island County.

Does this mean we will no longer have access to play on the current tennis / PB courts?
Not at all. We will continue to have the same access to the current tennis / PB courts as before. And with ten courts instead of just the six shared use, this venue will be more attractive for hosting tournaments in the future.

Will the roof be translucent? Sky lights?
Skylights and translucent siding panels have been found to interfere with play. With the solid upper side panels natural light is always limited. The installed lighting system will be LED, to USA Pickleball standards, and controllable to conserve energy.

How can someone make a donation to the Camano Covered Courts project

We will begin accepting checks at a later date, after we have received official approval from the CSPA Board as to the specific accounting procedures required to accept donations and track their receipt. We will update this FAQ when we are at the point when we can accept donations.

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Do you still need volunteers to help on this project?
Absolutely. We need people to help us with the fundraising We need help with organizing, writing, tracking progress, using social media, event planning, research on donation histories, grant research, editing, developing presentations, coaching donation ‘askers’ in practice sessions, drafting correspondence, financial management, to name a few. Old adage: “More hands make lighter work.” A couple of hours a week or a couple of hours a month.
If you would like to learn more about how you could help us, contact Bob Carr (Bob.Carr.cpm@gmail.com), Tim Jones (timothyjones1955@gmail.com) or Sylvia Domoto (domosyl@me.com).