Two multipurpose courts for pickleball and futsal opened at Ascarate Park Wednesday.

The newly added courts are part of a Phase 1 renovation to the Special event area at Ascarate.

The courts are 80 by 50 feet and were paid for by the County’s Capital Fund.

Two more courts will be opened at a later date once funding is allocated.

"We are working on funding for the rest of phase 1 and phase 2 of this Special events area. We have funding for Ascarate Park that we just approved recently through certificates of obligation and we also in the future we'll hopefully be bringing an item to the public to vote upon in a general obligation bond election," said Precinct 2 Commissioner David Stout.

Futsal is the FIFA-recognized form of small-sided fútbol (soccer). It is played between two teams who each have five players on the pitch at any one time, with rolling substitutes and a smaller ball than soccer that is harder and less bouncy.

An estimated 4.8 million pickleball players are in the United States. The sports’ popularity has grown approximately 39% in the last two years according to Pickleballhop.com. The demand in the sport prompted County officials to provide dedicated courts for pickleball.

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