Thomasville GA
Pickleball Association

Proposed Cherokee Park Pickleball Complex

UPDATED: August 1, 2026

Over the past year, your TGAPA Board has been working closely with the City of Thomasville on what could become one of the most exciting recreational projects our community has ever seen—a premier public pickleball complex at Cherokee Park.

While there is still much work to be done, we're excited to share where things stand.

Working in partnership with the City, TGAPA commissioned a professional landscape architect to develop a conceptual design for the proposed facility. That design has been presented to the City and approved as a potential vision for the project. The proposed complex includes 16 dedicated pickleball courts with fencing between each court, a clubhouse featuring restrooms, concessions, storage, and office space, as well as covered gathering areas and a walking trail connecting to the rest of Cherokee Park.

This facility would be owned by the City of Thomasville and would provide an incredible recreational resource for our community for generations to come.

To support the project, the City has asked TGAPA to assist with private fundraising. One of the reasons we became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization was to help make projects like this possible. As a charitable organization, TGAPA can accept tax-deductible donations from individuals, families, businesses, and foundations. All funds raised for this project will be designated exclusively for the Cherokee Park Pickleball Complex. They cannot be used for any other purpose.

Our Fundraising Committee has already completed an enormous amount of behind-the-scenes work to prepare for this effort. They've researched successful fundraising strategies, developed sponsorship opportunities, and begun building relationships within our business community. Before moving forward, it was important that we worked with City leadership to establish clear guidelines regarding donor recognition and sponsorship opportunities. Those discussions have been very productive, and we now have the direction we need to begin moving forward.

The city is also pursuing additional funding through state grants. If awarded, those grant funds would be dedicated solely to the Cherokee Park pickleball complex. While there is no guarantee of receiving any of these grants, it represents an important part of the overall funding strategy and clearly shows that the city is behind the project.

As many of you have asked, Cherokee Park was selected because City leadership identified it as an outstanding location for a facility of this size and quality. Its existing amenities, accessibility, and room for future growth make it an ideal home for what could become one of Georgia's premier public pickleball destinations.

As for the timeline, there are still many steps ahead. Continued planning, fundraising, grant opportunities, and City approvals will all play important roles in determining when construction can begin. If everything comes together as hoped, work could begin as early as 2027.

Right now, perhaps the most important thing our members can do is help build enthusiasm for this vision. The stronger our membership grows and the more community support we demonstrate, the stronger our position becomes as we work alongside the City to make this project a reality.

As fundraising efforts officially begin, we'll be sharing more information about sponsorship opportunities, donor recognition, and ways every member can participate—whether through volunteering, making a donation, or simply helping spread the word.

This project represents far more than a collection of pickleball courts. It's an investment in health, recreation, tourism, and quality of life for Thomasville and Thomas County. Together, we have an opportunity to create something that will serve our community for decades to come.

Thank you for your continued support of TGAPA and for believing in this exciting vision. We look forward to sharing more updates as the project continues to move forward.

Thank You,
Herb Williams
TGAPA President