Pickleball study prompts packed public comment; players push for quick tennis-to-pickleball conversions, neighbors raise noise concerns

The Parks and Recreation Commission on April 15 heard an update on pickleball offerings, a summary of an outdoor sports assessment and an extended public-comment period in which players urged faster, low-cost conversions of tennis courts to free, drop-in pickleball facilities.

Tracy Gott, recreation services manager, summarized the city’s current pickleball assets: an indoor program, a 12-court outdoor site at Lifetime Activity Center (reservable and fee-based), and limited weekend and daytime indoor play at the Recreation Center. She said Verdi (the city’s consultant on the outdoor sports assessment) recommended several actions: add dedicated pickleball courts at De Anza and Ensignal Park, add tennis courts at Las Palmas and Ponderosa (as tennis recommendations), and add pickleball overlays on existing basketball courts at Ortega and Washington. Gott said the study focused on existing city park sites, that staff and the consultant are finalizing the report, and that the assessment will return to City Council after additional outreach.

Public commenters urged a quicker timeline and cheaper options. Emily (Amelia) Danner, speaking on behalf of local players, said more than 500 local players signed a petition (later described in testimony as 565 signatures) and recommended converting two tennis courts into multiple pickleball courts, an approach neighboring cities have used. Constance Chen and other speakers recommended Sarah Park as a candidate for conversion and said conversions can be completed in under a year and at modest cost: striping and basic nets for roughly $15,000, and full resurfacing up to $100,000 if chosen.

Multiple residents and players described how pick-up, drop-in play is central to the sport’s accessibility and community benefits. Andy Scholl, Nate/Grama Maha and others described the social, intergenerational nature of pick-up play and urged free, accessible courts rather than fee-based, reserved-only facilities.

Commissioners and staff discussed operational details. Commissioner Bremel recalled the commission’s prior unanimous additions to the outdoor assessment — specifically support for Las Palmas for additional courts and a request not to overlay pickleball onto basketball courts without further study — and several commissioners suggested reusing underutilized city property, parking lots, or separating reserved and drop-in hours.

Staff described next steps: finalize the Verdi report, continue targeted outreach to park communities (Gott noted Las Palmas will have public outreach on the park renovation), and present recommendations to the City Council. Staff said some improvements recommended by the assessment could be several years out if tied to major park renovation schedules, but that simpler actions such as striping tennis courts for pickleball could be implemented more quickly if Council and the community support them.

Not all speakers supported immediate conversions. Henry Song, a resident, cautioned about noise and proximity to housing, noting industry guidance and arguing that some recommended locations (he cited Sarah Park) are closer to homes than widely recommended minimum distances for pickleball noise mitigation. Song argued that courts should not be placed where they would displace casual tennis players or harm neighbors’ quiet enjoyment.

The commission did not adopt a policy or take formal action on the pickleball recommendations at this meeting; staff said they would return with the final outdoor sports assessment and continue outreach tied to park renovation timelines. Commissioners and many public speakers urged staff and council to consider pilot projects or faster conversions (striping existing tennis courts) to provide more free, drop-in outdoor pickleball courts sooner than the multi-year renovation schedules would allow.