This covered basketball court with LED lights is $1 million. It’ll be open year round
A basketball court in Sumner is expected to undergo some upgrades by the end of 2023, allowing locals to enjoy it all year round.
The city plans to install a roof over the basketball court at Rainier View Park at 15603 Meade McCumber Rd. E., including skylights and LED lighting.
Community services manager Derek Barry said the roof allows people to use the court on rainy days, hot days or when the skies get dark earlier in the fall. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Barry said they’re looking into extending those hours during months of the year that the sun sets earliest, possibly until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m.
“We’re making sure that we weren’t blocking any views of Mount Rainier,” Barry said.
The city also plans to restripe the court so it allows people to use it as one large basketball court, two short basketball courts, three pickleball courts or one volleyball court. Screens and benches will be installed along the perimeter of the court.
The project costs about $1 million. The funding comes from a mix of sources – a $350,000 grant from the state Recreation & Conservation Office, over $200,000 from the state Legislature, as well as the city’s park impact fees.
“It will become a local basketball spot,” Barry said. “It’ll become a destination and possibly even for pickleball and volleyball.”
Barry wasn’t aware of other covered courts in Pierce County that are as big as the one planned for the park.
Project manager Andrew Leach said the city hopes to start construction at the beginning of next year and complete the improvements sometime before the end of December 2023.
“The court and adjacent area will be closed during construction,” Barry said via email. “We are hoping to keep as much of the park open as possible.”
