Wilmette's pickleball players will lose access to the Hibbard Park courts starting Monday, Aug. 24, after the Wilmette Park District announced the surface needs to be redone because of water pooling and cracking.

The fix won't cost taxpayers a dime.

The eight courts at Community Playfields, 702 Locust Rd., will remain open as the alternative through mid-October, when the Hibbard Park project is expected to wrap up. The closure overlaps with the first week of school for Wilmette families.

The district's contractor is handling the resurfacing at no additional cost, according to an announcement posted on the Wilmette Park District website on Monday, Aug. 17. The current surface does not meet district standards, with early signs of water pooling and cracking already visible.

Hibbard Park, an 8.3-acre facility at 3000 Glenview Rd. behind the Community Recreation Center, underwent a major renovation funded by a $600,000 OSLAD grant with construction running from spring 2025 through summer 2026. The pickleball courts were a central feature of that project.

No formal reopening date has been set beyond the mid-October target.

Players looking for court time can head to Community Playfields, which also has four tennis courts on site.