BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. – At Blue Ridge Park, newly resurfaced dual-use pickleball and tennis courts are officially open, along with upgraded basketball courts — the first major improvements to the facility since 2008. The updates stem from community input, strategic planning and a shared vision for accessible, active spaces for all.
Luke Donithan, a local youth, expressed his excitement: “I can’t wait to come out and play. It’s cool how they can put pickleball and tennis in one.”
The project was first added to the county’s Capital Improvement Plan in 2021. By 2023, the vision had grown to meet local demand for pickleball, transforming both tennis courts into dual-use layouts.
Victor Morales, Director of Parks and Recreation for Botetourt County, shared, “The money came from the Board of Supervisors. Every year, there’s a capital improvement plan that gets approved, and that’s where this money came from.”
Community members believe these upgrades are a smart investment in the next generation. Don Saunders, a local resident, stated, “They are our future, and they need something wholesome for their future.”
And these upgrades are just the beginning.
The county’s 2023 Quality of Life Survey revealed a strong call for more family-friendly activities. Parks and Recreation Director Victor Morales says investments like these are part of a larger effort to strengthen community connection.
“You’ll see some improvements at the Greenfield Disc Golf Course soon where we are kind of finalizing a juniors course so it’s more approachable for everybody to go out there and play... Last Lock Park, you’ll also be seeing some things as well and that’s a park in Eagle Rock that we are actually doing updates to a pavilion out there.”
Last Lock Park in Eagle Rock, located at 15312 Narrow Passage Rd, Eagle Rock, VA 24085, will also see updates. The sign, which was destroyed in a storm, will be replaced, and the pavilion will be refurbished for public use and rentals.
The disc golf course will be enhanced with permanent in-ground tee pads added to the Red Course, making the game more accessible to new players.
From Blue Ridge Park to communities across the county, the goal is to build spaces that bring people together and keep Botetourt County moving forward.