The Raber family needed a safe, reliable backyard area for multi-sport practice without risking ankle injuries on uneven lawn turf. However, severe utility easements and property grade drops threatened to make the installation impossible.
Located in the town of Delafield, WI, the Raber family turned to experienced court builders to evaluate their acreage. The site presented a major utility easement passing through the middle of the yard alongside a rear conservation zone. Working directly with local landscapers, the crew planned a custom backyard multi-sport court integrated with a heavy-duty retaining wall.
Key Takeaways
- THE CHALLENGEA major central utility easement and steep terrain constrained available space for a dedicated multi-sport surface.
- THE APPLICATIONAn integrated multi-sport game court and custom batting cage system were built alongside a three-tier retaining wall.
- THE RESULTThe family gained a stable surface for consistent baseball, basketball, and pickleball practice year-round.
To protect access to underground utility lines, the court surface was offset near the property's side boundary. A three-tier retaining wall was constructed to cut into the hillside and create a level concrete sub-base. The completed layout combines a Bucks-themed basketball court, regulation pickleball lines, and an adjacent batting cage.
Project Summary
| Client Profile: |
The Raber Family |
| Project Location: |
Delafield, WI |
| Primary Objective: |
Create a level backyard training space for basketball, pickleball and baseball while working around the property’s utility and grading restrictions. |
| System Installed: |
Custom Sport Court surface featuring Milwaukee Bucks branding, dual-head LED sports lighting, and a custom batting cage system. |
| Measurable Impact: |
Transformed a heavily restricted lot into a complete multi-sport athletic facility with zero injury risk from lawn divots. |
Overcoming Complex Underground Utility Restrictions
The project site featured a significant utility easement running through the center of the backyard. Because municipal utility workers can excavate easement zones without regard for surface structures, placing concrete directly over the main line was not an option. The team worked around the restriction by clearing selective trees on the left boundary and trimming back mature branches.
Excavation required digging into the natural slope of the hill. A custom three-tier retaining wall was erected by the landscaping crew to hold back soil and provide a stable, level foundation for the concrete slab.
Precision Construction & Multi-Sport Integration
The site design brought the access steps of the retaining wall directly to the corner of the athletic surface. A custom Milwaukee Bucks color theme was selected using marine-grade polyurethane paint, matching the team's official blue and green brand pantones.
"Having a light on their court mattered to them to extend the playing season and playing hours. What they bought was the court; what they got is that plus pickleball, badminton, and volleyball." - (Alec, C&C Courts Inc. - Sport Court Wi)
An adjacent batting cage was constructed along the court edge, giving the family a predictable surface for baseball pitching and hitting practice. Dual parking-lot-style LED lights mounted on a high-reach mast were angled in opposite directions—one illuminating the basketball/pickleball surface and the other focused on the batting cage. The installation incorporated specialized shock absorption tiles that reduce joint impact compared to hard concrete or asphalt surfaces.
Milwaukee Bucks custom themed multi-sport court featuring an adjacent residential batting cage and dual light mast.
Delivering Professional Performance & Safe Play
The integrated batting cage eliminated the unpredictable ball bounces and rolled ankles associated with practicing on lawn turf. The multi-sport tile system features lateral forgiveness technology that absorbs side-to-side joint stress during intense cuts and drills.
With dual commercial-grade LED illumination, the family extended their playing time into winter evenings. The court now serves as a primary athletic center for the family and neighboring children across all four seasons.
Design Your Ultimate Multi-Sport Facility
We specialize in solving difficult site constraints, grade changes, and easement restrictions. Our team collaborates with local contractors to build seamless, high-performance athletic facilities tailored to your family's favorite sports.
Need expert advice on installing a multi-sport court on a complex Delafield property?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Sport Court be built near a utility easement in Delafield?
Yes. By reviewing property surveys and lot setbacks, athletic courts can be positioned adjacent to utility easements. This preserves essential access for municipal utility teams while maximizing usable space for backyard play.
How does Lateral Forgiveness technology protect joint health?
Lateral Forgiveness allows slight side-to-side movement between interlocking court tiles during hard stops and direction changes. This lateral movement absorbs athletic stress that would otherwise transfer directly to ankles, knees, and hips.
Are parking-lot-style lights suitable for residential athletic courts?
Commercial LED parking lot lights offer superior illumination for large multi-sport spaces and batting cages. Mounted on custom masts with directional heads, they cast bright, even light across multiple activity zones without spreading unnecessary glare into surrounding homes.
