Bedford County added six new pickleball courts and one new basketball court to the County Rec property on Bedford Avenue. The old tennis courts located here were removed.

Prior to these courts, pickleball enthusiasts would play at the Bedford County Gym on Turning Point Road, but they were limited to two days a week. The new Bedford Avenue pickleball courts are open seven days a week.

Approximate Timeline

• Sept. 2024—County advertises for proposals
• Feb. 2025—Contract awarded to G. & H. Contracting, Inc.
• Spring 2025—Construction begins
• August 20, 2025—Courts open to the public

Media Coverage

• "For the love of pickleball: new courts give Bedford residents more room to play" News & Advance, Aug. 22, 2025
• "Outdoor pickleball courts unveiled in Bedford" - WSLS, Aug. 20, 2025
• "Bedford County unveils new outdoor pickleball and basketball courts" - WDBJ, Aug. 20, 2025
• "Bedford County opens first outdoor pickleball courts" - WSET, Aug. 20, 2025
• "Bedford to build county's first outdoor pickleball courts" - WDBJ, Dec. 5, 2024

Funding for Large Construction Projects

The primary goal of a capital improvement plan (CIP) is to strategically allocate resources for long-term capital projects, ensuring that infrastructure and facilities are maintained, upgraded, and expanded to meet the evolving needs of the community or organization. These larger projects are found in the CIP and are funded through the capital budget, versus the operating budget. Government bodies, including Bedford County, plan and save for these projects for several years.

You can view the 2025-2029 CIP here. It’s important to note that funding is only appropriated for year one of the CIP. Projects in years two through five are subject to change.