Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves adding eight pickleball courts at Liberty Park; staff directed to study East‑side options
Summary
Cerritos City Council voted 5–0 on April 10 to convert two Liberty Park tennis courts into dual‑use layouts that will yield eight pickleball courts. Council also asked staff to survey tennis court use at Cerritos Park East and study additional East‑side options including Don Canabe Regional Park.
The Cerritos City Council on April 10 approved converting two of Liberty Park’s tennis courts into dual‑use configurations that will accommodate four pickleball courts per tennis court, creating eight new pickleball playing areas at Liberty Park.
The Recreation Services Division presented options and costs: adding pickleball lines to an existing tennis court costs roughly $2,000–$5,000 depending on configuration, while a full resurfacing and conversion (resurface + tennis lines + four pickleball courts) is estimated at about $20,000 per court. Staff said Liberty Park’s six tennis courts are in good condition and would not require full resurfacing for line additions in common dual‑use scenarios.
Why it matters: Pickleball has grown sharply in Cerritos and regionally; staff and commissioners told the council that player demand is high and that drop‑in play is common. At the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting in December 2023 the commission voted 5–0 to recommend converting one Liberty Park tennis court to four stand‑alone pickleball courts (drop‑in). In the April 10 council discussion staff presented multiple configurations and recommended Council review and direction.
Council action: Council member Linda Johnson moved to convert two tennis courts into dual‑use layouts (each tennis court re‑lined to accommodate four pickleball courts) for a total of eight pickleball courts; another council member seconded the motion. The motion passed 5–0. Council also asked staff to prepare a broader analysis of citywide pickleball needs that would include survey data for Cerritos Park East tennis courts and options at Don Canabe Regional Park and other East‑side locations.
Public input: Residents who play pickleball urged the council to add courts at Liberty and to consider East‑side sites that offer parking and restrooms (Don Canabe Regional Park was mentioned by multiple speakers). Several public commenters suggested converting underused tennis courts at Cerritos Park East and exploring a county‑city partnership to repurpose county courts at Don Canabe Regional Park for more accessible, lower‑cost play.
Technical details: Staff said multiple pickleball courts can fit on a single tennis court without excessive cross‑play if properly striped and fenced. Options vary: single dual‑use (one pickleball + one tennis), two pickleball courts on a tennis court, or four pickleball courts on a single tennis court; each choice has tradeoffs for reservations versus drop‑in play. The Parks and Recreation Commission had recommended 4 stand‑alone courts on one tennis court; council authorized a larger conversion (two tennis courts → eight pickleball courts) to meet demand.
Quotes: Recreation staff Sameer Patel: “If the existing tennis court is in good condition, the new boundary lines could be painted on top of the existing tennis court surfacing.”
Ending: Council also directed staff to return promptly with a citywide plan and a survey of Cerritos Park East’s four tennis courts so the city can weigh needs across neighborhoods and present cost and scheduling options for any additional conversions.
