Councilor Urges New Taipei City to Add Pickleball Courts; Government Promises Action

New Taipei City Councilor Li Weng-yueh has called on the city government to expedite the construction of two additional pickleball courts under the Chenglu Bridge. She highlighted that the existing eight pickleball courts located at the Erchong Floodway are consistently fully occupied, demonstrating the growing popularity and demand for the sport in the area.

Li Weng-yueh pointed out that the proposed project would cost over NT$1 million and expressed frustration that the Sports Bureau cited a lack of funds. She argued that since pickleball has its own committee, the development of courts should fall under the Sports Bureau's purview, especially given the bureau's substantial annual budget.

Mayor Hou Yu-ih, along with Sports Bureau Director Hong Yu-ling and Water Resources Bureau Director Song De-ren, addressed the issue. They explained that the construction site is on riverine land, requiring the Flood Control Engineering Office to lead the project. The city is currently applying for central government subsidies, and the mayor assured that if central funding proves insufficient, the city government will cover the remaining costs to ensure the project's prompt implementation.