Residents could soon have an in-depth look at the proposed improvements to Givens Park in Port Orchard, including the unique addition of a futsal court.

The City Council approved a $63,300 contract with Baumwelt March 12 for the landscape architect design of the Givens Park sports courts remodel project, which aims to make several improvements and adaptations to coincide with modern interests.

Among these is the interest to resurface the existing tennis and basketball courts to also accommodate pickleball and futsal, the latter of which is a soccer-based game typically played on a hard surface such as a basketball court. Among the other planned improvements are added fencing, lighting, accessible routes and installation of hillside seating.

“These are the kinds of improvements that help make communities,” Councilman Scott Diener said. “This has been kind of an underutilized space for quite some time.”

The movement to create a futsal court in Port Orchard was sparked in 2022 by a middle schooler, now high schooler, Isaac Nguyen. He attended a Planning Commission meeting with a petition with more than 200 signatures. The city has secured a funding via a state grant that would cover 60% ($176,400) of the estimated project costs ($294,000). The Port Orchard Rotary is expected to contribute as well.

Diener spoke on the benefits of incorporating the additional sports into the improvements. “This would give them the option to play pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, and futsal, which I hope would become a fast-growing sport since it’s pretty fascinating to watch,” he said.

Councilman Eric Worden added: “Living in my neighborhood, there’s members that come from all over to utilize our pickleball courts, so I’m really looking forward to this going up and running.”

The city aims to accept bids for construction this summer or fall, the project website says.