Cebu City drops proposed pickleball courts plan in SRP

The proposal seeking the development of government-funded public pickleball courts in Cebu City, including at the South Road Properties (SRP), was withdrawn on Tuesday, June 23.

During the Cebu City Council’s regular session, Councilors Harry Eran and Nice Archival moved to withdraw the proposed resolution that would have urged the city government to identify suitable city-owned properties for the establishment of public pickleball courts.

Among the sites previously considered was the former Sinulog venue in 2023 to 2024 at City di Mare in SRP.

In an exclusive interview with CDN Digital, Eran said the proposed site forms part of the joint venture between the city government and Filinvest, meaning any development proposal must first secure approval from the joint venture committee.

“We still want to really determine who owns the property, but we will inform that portion of property [City di Mare] belongs to the joint venture agreement,” he said. “So we cannot just present or propose anything without the approval of the joint venture committee.”

City di Mare is being developed under a joint venture agreement between the government and Filinvest, requiring projects to undergo proper authorization before implementation.

While other local government units already provide free, publicly accessible pickleball courts, the councilor is set to talk with the City Mayor Nestor Archival about the possibility of establishing a similar facility in the city.

“I’ll talk to the mayor and look for a suitable space where we can put one for the Cebu City, other LGUs naa na.”

To recall, the councilors filed the resolution on June 19 before the city mayor.

The withdrawn measure sought to encourage the city government to designate accessible public spaces where residents could play pickleball, a paddle sport that has gained popularity in recent years across the country and abroad.

The proposal also stated to evaluate City di Mare for possible conversion or adaptation into pickleball courts, either as a permanent facility or on a shared-use basis. 

Additionally, the measure called for the preparation of development plans, cost estimates, and implementation schedules, while ensuring that any future facility would remain accessible to the public.

The development comes amid increasing interest in pickleball among recreational players and sports enthusiasts in Cebu City.