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Board hears options for managing rising indoor pickleball demand; survey and fee study planned
Summary
Staff reported rising demand for indoor pickleball at the Robert and Lee Duvall Center and will distribute a user survey in October; options under consideration include level-based time slots, additional hours for reservation, and possible user fees tied to a larger fee study.
Parks staff told the advisory board on Aug. 18 that indoor pickleball at the Robert and Lee Duvall Center has expanded in recent seasons and that demand now exceeds available court time, prompting plans for a user survey and consideration of new reservation hours and possible fees.
Why it matters: The program is a popular social activity requiring staff to balance open, informal play and higher-level competitive use on a single court. Board members and staff said data from a short, targeted survey will inform whether to add reserved, paid slots for advanced or intermediate play while preserving free social hours.
What staff reported: Recreation staff said the city increased indoor availability from about 9 hours per week to about 23.5 hours in 2024 to meet demand. Staff plans to distribute a survey in October to pickleball participants via on-site QR codes, sign-in lists and email to gather origins (resident vs. nonresident), skill levels and willingness to pay. Phil (staff) said the survey will target regular users and that the city is also incorporating pickleball into a broader fee study covering multiple municipal services.
Options discussed: Board members proposed reserving some premium hours for paid reservations or targeted levels (beginner, intermediate, competitive) and keeping a core of free social hours. Staff said Wednesday has been used as an incubator day for new programs and could be considered for expanded play. Staff also will research regional benchmarks for user fees and potential resident/nonresident differentials.
A cautionary note from members: Several board members urged caution about instituting fees for a long-standing free activity and recommended using a phased approach (additional paid reserved hours instead of converting all free hours) and full board review before any fee recommendation is forwarded to City Council.
Next steps: Staff will distribute a targeted survey in October, analyze results, and return to the board with recommended scheduling and any fee proposals for formal consideration and, if recommended, a council referral.
Ending: The board asked staff to proceed with the October survey and to report back with data-driven recommendations rather than immediate changes to hours or fees.
