Construction crews are rolling toward a fall completion of new outdoor courts at Miller Park.

“We are still hopeful that the courts will be ready for play by the end of October,” said Matt Bourne, parks and natural resources manager for the City of Eden Prairie. “It all depends on the weather we get, but that is still the plan at this point.”

Continued mild weather would make activity on the new courts possible before winter.

The new facility, lighted for evening play, will include one tennis court and one basketball court in addition to the eight pickleball courts. It replaces aging tennis and basketball courts at Miller Park and adds pickleball courts to the mix. A shaded seating area is also part of the project.

The city council in July OK’d a $1,449,590 construction contract to build the project.

At one time, the city council was considering an indoor court facility, but after a lengthy debate, it was dissuaded by cost estimates, which ranged as high as $14 million for the enclosed structure.

The decision to build outdoor courts means that pickleball fans seeking winter play will need to use privately owned fitness facilities.