Botetourt board reserves one tennis-only court at Buchanan amid pickleball debate

The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on June 24 to reserve one of two newly resurfaced courts at Buchanan Elementary for tennis practice and mark the other court for dual tennis and pickleball use, a compromise meant to balance growing community demand for pickleball with the needs of a new high school tennis program.

The decision follows public comment from James River High School coaches, players and parents who urged the board to keep at least one court free of overlaid pickleball lines so novice tennis players can learn without confusing markings. "Tennis and pickleball can coexist," said Brian White, head girls' tennis coach at James River, during the meeting's public comment period. "So to have overlay lines and to teach and coach this moving forward, it would be great to at least have one court just designated for tennis."

That request came after county staff and the court contractor warned that repeatedly applying and removing temporary pickleball tape could damage the court surface and potentially void the manufacturer's warranty. County officials also said permanent dual-striping is the lower-cost, faster way to open courts to both sports.

Why it matters

Students and coaches told the board they have limited safe practice space. James River fields matches at Highlands, but players must travel there; Buchanan is the closest practice site for many. Players and parents said overlaying pickleball lines on both courts would make basic instruction harder for learners and could hamper a nascent program. County staff and the parks department said they want broad public access to new courts while protecting the investment in a recently resurfaced surface.

Discussion and facts

Multiple students and a teammate read statements at the meeting. A statement from Maggie Brewster — captain of the James River girls tennis team — was read aloud by Reagan Childs: "We are strongly advocating for one dedicated tennis court and one dual sport court at Buchanan Elementary." Student speakers said the school has only two usable courts on site and that dual striping can cause confusion for beginners.

County staff briefed the board on alternatives. Parks staff explained the contractor prefers permanent striping and that removable tape or temporary overlays, even if handled by volunteers, can abrade the playing surface and reduce or void the warranty that accompanies the court work. Parks director Victor Morales summarized available guidance from facility groups and local athletics officials, noting there are no binding high-school-competition rules forcing single-use courts; the U.S. Tennis Association provides striping standards and the Virginia High School League leaves some determinations to local jurisdictions.

Board action and next steps

Supervisor Steve Clinton moved to reserve one court at Buchanan for tennis-only use, leave the second court striped for both tennis and pickleball, and require staff to return with a usage review in one year. The motion was seconded and carried by a 4-1 vote. The board directed staff to proceed with the current contractor on the two courts under that configuration while monitoring community access and team needs over the next 12 months.

What remains unsettled

Board members and staff discussed longer-term options including pursuing U.S. Tennis Association grants and exploring whether the high school or the county could add additional courts at James River or at Greenfield/other county properties. Building competitive, dedicated high-school facilities would be a separate, higher-cost capital project and was not approved as part of this vote.

The board's decision preserves a practice space for the newly formed James River girls tennis team while keeping one court available for recreational players who favor pickleball. The county will revisit the allocation and court markings in one year and report back to the board with usage data and, if appropriate, funding options for any future expansion.