WALKER, La. — Indoor pickleball is one step closer to reality in the City of Walker.
At the close of Monday night’s regular council meeting, Mayor Jimmy Watson announced that Pickle Kingdom, a national franchise, plans to open a facility in the former Winn-Dixie building. The venue is expected to feature 10 to 12 courts, although no timeline for opening was provided.
Pickleball has rapidly gained popularity across the country. According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), roughly 48.3 million adults played the sport in the past year, which is nearly 19 percent of the U.S. adult population. That figure represents a 311% increase in players over the past three years.
In other business, the council approved a $666,667 increase for ongoing sewer system improvements south of Interstate 12. The additional funding includes a $500,000 federal grant increase, with the remaining $166,667 transferred from the city’s special revenue fund to the enterprise fund. The total cost of the project is now $3.6 million.
Council members also voted unanimously to commit up to $674,354 in local funds, if needed, to ensure the successful completion of the Taylor Bayou Regional Drainage Improvement Project. The project’s total cost is projected at $9.5 million, with $8.9 million funded through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) under Round Two of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative.
The council also approved a request by Police Chief David Addison to reinstate Pfc. Jeremy Milton as a full-time officer. Milton previously served as a full-time officer from 2019 to 2021 after a year as a reserve, then transitioned to part-time status. He will now return to full-time duty.
