Calvert City officially named its pickleball courts the Latta Pickleball Courts and celebrated the opening of four new courts with a ribbon cutting on Dec. 9 at the Doctor’s Park Sports Complex. The addition brings the total number of dedicated pickleball courts in Calvert City to eight.
The naming honors Parvin and Darlene Latta for their exceptional dedication and leadership in establishing, developing, and promoting pickleball in Calvert City. The decision followed citizen input, with Mayor Gene Colburn requesting the courts be named in the Lattas’ honor. The Calvert City Parks Board and City Council members joined the mayor in that request.
Mayor Colburn read the official proclamation recognizing the Lattas, followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the courts. More than 40 people attended the event, reflecting the strong and growing pickleball community in Calvert City.
“Parvin and Darlene Latta saw the potential for pickleball long before most of us did,” Mayor Colburn said. “They listened to their community, put in countless volunteer hours, and never stopped advocating for a sport that brings people together. Naming these courts the Latta Pickleball Courts is a way to say thank you for the lasting impact they have made in Calvert City.”
The Lattas were first introduced to pickleball in 2014 while visiting Florida, where they saw a couple playing on a converted tennis court. They purchased wooden paddles and balls and quickly fell in love with the game, returning to it each year during their visits. Their passion soon followed them home.
In 2017, the Lattas attended a Calvert City Council meeting to request that city tennis courts be marked for pickleball play. At the time, only a small handful of players were participating locally. Through persistent advocacy, hands-on leadership, and countless volunteer hours spent teaching newcomers and organizing games, interest steadily grew.
“Pickleball has given us so much joy, and sharing it with our town has been incredibly rewarding,” Parvin and Darlene Latta said. “We are deeply honored by this recognition and grateful to the city, the Parks Board, and the entire pickleball community for their support. Seeing these courts full of players nearly every day is the greatest reward we could ask for.”
Today, Calvert City is home to one of the most active recreational pickleball communities in the region. Nearly every day, groups of players can be found on the courts at Doctor’s Park Sports Complex. The Calvert City Pickleball Facebook group now includes more than 1,300 members.
The City Council noted that the Lattas’ contributions have not only expanded recreational opportunities but also strengthened community connections, encouraged healthy lifestyles, and brought residents of all ages together through the game of pickleball.
Open Play Schedule at Latta Pickleball Courts
• Ladies play Mondays, 9 to 11 a.m.
• Men play Wednesdays, 9 to 11 a.m.
• Open play Tuesdays, 9 to 11 a.m.
• Open play Sundays, 5 to 7 p.m.
• Open play Wednesdays, 5 to 7 p.m.
During warmer months, morning play begins at 8 a.m.
Those interested in playing are encouraged to email calvertcitypickleball@gmail.com or join the Calvert City Pickleball Facebook group.
