More than 200 people gathered under clear blue skies at Mike Ward Community Park as Irvine opened eight new pickleball courts, drawing players eager to be among the first to step onto the freshly finished surfaces.
After brief remarks from city officials, a ribbon cutting marked the official opening. Players then moved quickly onto the courts, filling the park with the sharp pop of pickleball under the afternoon sun.
On the courts, faces alternated between focused concentration and laughter. Some players competed intensely with longtime partners, while others paired up with people they had met minutes earlier, trading introductions between points and sharing quick smiles after rallies.
“This is a huge milestone for the community,” said Chris Slama, the city’s director of community and library services. He said the project reflects years of requests from residents and adds eight dedicated, lighted courts designed to blend naturally into the park. Some courts include extra space to improve accessibility for players of all abilities.
Beyond the courts, the project includes four shade structures, upgraded site lighting and improvements to the park’s restrooms.
Among the first players was Harshavardhan Atmakur of Irvine, a former tennis player who switched to pickleball two years ago and recently won a gold medal at a California Pickleball Association tournament. Atmakur said he was drawn to pickleball for its faster pace and because it’s easier on the body. “I want to show my kids it’s never too late to get better and compete,” he says.
Tuan Nguyen, a Woodbridge resident who arrived about an hour before most attendees, watched as the courts quickly filled once play began.
“You could feel how excited people were,” Nguyen says. “Everyone — young and old — wanted to come out and play. I was excited to be part of the first game.”
