Four new pickleball courts are soon coming to Morgan Hill, thrilling the paddle sport’s enthusiasts in the city.

A groundbreaking celebration for the new courts that had originally been planned before Christmas was postponed by rain and will now take place this coming Wednesday, Jan. 3. The city will host the 10 a.m. ceremony at the site of the future courts, which will be constructed at Morgan Hill Community Park, located at 171 W. Edmundson Ave.

The ceremony will include speakers, refreshments and a ceremonial pickleball toss.

City officials said a group of enthusiastic pickleball players have been using three temporary courts on the existing basketball courts at the park.

The construction of the courts could take up to four months depending on the weather, and the courts will be free and open to the public during most hours once they are completed, according to the city.

“The City’s four new, professional-quality courts will make play safer, reduce congestion, and certainly make the game more enjoyable,” said Tim Hendrick, president of the Morgan Hill Pickleball Club, in a news release. “What people need to know is that everyone is welcome at these pickleball courts, whether they are novices or experts. It is a sport you can pick up in a half hour, and then you can join us in spending the rest of our lives getting really good!”

More information on Morgan Hill’s pickleball plans can be found on the city’s website.

Dan McMenamin is the managing editor at Bay City News, directing daily news coverage of the 12-county greater Bay Area. He has worked for BCN since 2008 and has been managing editor since 2014 after previously serving as BCN’s San Francisco bureau reporter. A UC Davis graduate, he came to BCN after working for a newspaper and nonprofit in the Davis area. He handles staffing, including coaching of our interns, day-to-day coverage decisions and management of the newswire.