Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pickleball topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
San Mateo to keep Beresford pickleball pilot as ongoing amenity after positive feedback
Summary
After a six-month pilot, Parks & Recreation staff recommended — and commissioners signaled support for — ending the Beresford Park pickleball pilot and making the courts an ongoing drop-in amenity while staff monitors feedback and addresses minor facility needs.
San Mateo Parks & Recreation staff recommended ending the Beresford Park pickleball pilot and keeping the court configuration as an ongoing drop-in amenity following community feedback and a short pilot period.
Community services manager Zach Silva told the commission that staff collected 98 feedback responses and identified roughly 50 unsolicited comments in favor and seven negative comments. “The recommendation is to transition the pickleball pilot program into an ongoing drop in amenity at Beresford Park,” Silva said, summarizing staff’s position and the operational changes staff plans to keep in place.
The pilot began after resurfacing needs prompted staff to survey the community. Silva said staff initially converted one tennis court into three pickleball courts (two on one half, one on the other) and equipped the site with portable nets and striping. Silva reported that nets cost about $2,400 each and striping for the pilot was about $25,000.
Public commenters and organized users of the courts urged the commission to make the change permanent and offered practical suggestions. Pickleball user Wari Seki said, “We really enjoy it … we really look forward to continued play at Beresford Park.” Ricky Villareal, speaking for a group of players, asked for fixed net racks, clearer signage by the rack area, more benches and a water bottle fill station, and better wind buffering. Rosario Misaki (Glory Misaki in the record) told commissioners she uses the park daily and supported making the installation permanent.
Commissioners and staff addressed those requests during discussion. Silva said staff has already installed “court code of conduct” signage, designated Court 1 for pickleball only, removed wheels from nets to keep them from being moved, tightened loose nets, and supplied push brooms for players to clean courts. He encouraged users to continue reporting maintenance needs via pickleball@cityofSanMateo.org.
Commissioners described the feedback as heavily favorable and signaled support for the recommended change. Vice Chair Witcher said the balance of responses — “50 unsolicited comments in favor, only 7 comments not in favor” — showed community demand. Commissioner Ocampo and others said they supported the program and noted the need to add the courts to longer-term capital planning if permanent fixtures (color-coded lines, permanent nets, sound barriers, or lighting) are desired.
Staff emphasized the difference between removing the pilot label and building fully permanent infrastructure. As Silva and Joanne Magrini, Parks & Recreation director, explained, removing pilot status allows staff to take down pilot signage and treat court lines and equipment as an ongoing amenity immediately, while capital items such as permanent net posts, different line colors, lighting, or sound mitigation would require a separate capital project and City Council approval and funding.
The discussion closed with commissioners encouraging ongoing feedback and noting the Park and Recreation Foundation as a potential partner for fundraising if the community wants accelerated capital improvements.
The commission took no formal vote on the item; staff said it would implement the direction to move the pilot into routine operations and begin removing pilot signage immediately.
