Sunnyvale reports rises in camps, pickleball and badminton participation

Sunnyvale recreation staff presented an annual sports update showing growth across youth and adult offerings and outlining how the city partners with contractors.

Interim Recreation Services Manager Veronica Torres said the department runs youth and adult leagues, camps and drop‑in programs and partners with contractors for specialized instruction. Staff reported more than 1,800 participants in classes during the last fiscal year and over 1,000 enrollments in camps (which include winter, spring and summer sessions). Camps run one to eight weeks depending on the offering.

Gary Brown, recreation coordinator for the indoor sports center, said gymnastics camps had about 455 participants this year, classes served roughly 3,690 participants, the drop‑in adult volleyball program recorded more than 2,200 visits, and pickleball participation increased from 506 to 651 (a 28% rise). Brown described badminton as a particularly loyal community with about 6,100 visits recorded.

Torres explained contractor revenue splits: when contractors use city facilities the split is typically about 60% to the contractor/40% to the city; when contractors use their own buildings the contractor typically receives about 70% while the city receives about 30% of registration fees. Staff said scholarship eligibility uses HUD income thresholds to set eligibility lines and that the city recently increased scholarship funding and eligibility amounts.

Commissioners asked how programming is chosen; staff said they rely on annual assessments, participant surveys and past enrollment data and noted plans to expand outreach and update web and print materials to reach underrepresented neighborhoods.