WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. \u2014 Purdue University students now have access to the Pickett-Chaney Pickleball and Tennis Complex, a new outdoor facility named in honor of two families with deep ties to Purdue. The complex bears the names of Martin and Janice Pickett and Jean Anne \u201cJeannie\u201d and James Chaney, whose support made the project possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Purdue Recreation & Wellness<\/a> (RecWell), which oversees recreational facilities and programming across campus, took a leadership role in the project to expand and resurface 18 pickleball courts. The courts are individually fenced, including three championship-sized courts. The newly named complex also features two individually fenced tennis courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The athletic facility also includes a social space where students can connect, watch friends play and study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt ensures paddle and racket sports remain accessible and thriving for faculty, staff and students for years to come,\u201d said Beth McCuskey, Purdue\u2019s vice provost for student life. \u201cBy incorporating the new complex with the adjacent intramural fields, we\u2019ll be able to encourage students to balance long hours of studying and screen time with outdoor recreation. Pickleball is a great way to build friendships too!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The complex represents the first phase of RecWell\u2019s broader Outdoor Master Plan<\/a>, a long-term vision to transform and expand outdoor spaces across campus to meet the needs of a growing community by providing modern and versatile recreational spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The expansion addresses increased participation during open recreation times and continued growth in the Purdue Pickleball Club and Intramural Sports programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis complex is about creating a place where students and the broader Purdue community can come together, build connections and support their overall well-being,\u201d said Mike Warren, senior director of RecWell. \u201cWhether you\u2019re a seasoned competitor or just looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon with friends, this facility was designed with you in mind. Combined with the Schwartz Tennis Center, we now have more opportunities than ever to support active, connected lives across our campus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the new courts, RecWell offers indoor pickleball in the Multipurpose Activity Court at France A. C\u00f3rdova Recreational Sports Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Chaney family\u2019s generosity<\/a> spans more than 45 years. Jeannie Chaney earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in pharmacy in 1961. She and her husband have committed more than $44 million to support the College of Pharmacy<\/a>, student scholarships, faculty excellence and campus facilities, including Chaney-Hale Hall of Science<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n