Shoals residents now have access to a newly built development of tennis and pickleball courts.

The City of Florence cut the ribbon on the new recreational and athletic development at Veterans Park, where 38 courts have been built.

“As I prepare to leave office, I can say just how proud I am of what has been accomplished,” said Florence Mayor Andrew Betterton in a speech at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “I think we take for granted the number of people who come in and out of our community daily,” he continued regarding the flow of visitors to the city of Florence.

Betterton said that the new courts will help the city continue to foster the growing local popularity of pickleball.

The development comprises 12 hard tennis courts, six clay tennis courts, 14 covered pickleball courts and six outdoor pickleball courts. These figures also include a championship-sized hard tennis court and pickleball court.

The total cost of the project is around $12 million, according to Florence Racquet Sports Coordinator Keeton Hetrick.

Several of those in attendance hope that the courts will continue to attract people from inside and outside of Florence to promote racquet sports in the city.

Plans are already set for a pickleball tournament associated with Southern Pickleball to take place in the new facility. Tennis-focused events are also expected to be planned.

As the Veterans Park development is finished, Florence is also set to begin work on a $950,000 improvement along Pine Street.

The Alabama Department of Transportation is administering a $762,000 grant to the city of Florence and UNA. The total cost of the project is $952,510.

The project is expected to include new lighting fixtures, sidewalks, ramps and landings along Pine Street, between its intersection with Irvine Street—next to Norton Auditorium—and Cumberland Street.

The Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments will execute the grant locally in partnership with UNA and Florence.