10-05-2023 Parks_Rec Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO:Parks & Recreation Commission FROM:Bryce Shearen, CPRE, Parks & Recreation/Community Services Director DATE:October 5, 2023 RE:Pickleball ACTION REQUESTED If desired, the Parks & Recreation Commission could recommend moving forward with converting Spooner Park courts to pickleball courts. BACKGROUND In 2017 pickleball lines were added to the Spooner and Pioneer tennis courts. At the time, pickleball popularity was growing, but there were some reservations about how well it would be received in Little Canada and if pickleball-only courts would be utilized. After the courts were dual-striped for both tennis and pickleball staff began pickleball programming and had a couple of beginner events that were well attended. Pickleball continues to grow in popularity in Little Canada and nationwide. It is now named the fastest-growing sport in America by The Economist and continues to see exponential growth in popularity. In a recent article from the National Recreation Parks Association (NRPA), it was stated that “The best part of pickleball is its universality. Virtually anyone can play, and schools and recreation centers are expanding opportunities for youth to lay in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings.” (NRPA Top Trends in Parks and Recreation) Over the years staff has heard from both tennis and pickleball players about the current courts. While most are appreciative of the effort, there are some concerns with the current setup. Some of the concerns that have been heard are with the addition of more lines, some areas confuse players on if a ball is in play or out of play. The net height for the two sports is a little different with a tennis court net being 36 inches at the center and a pickleball net being 34 inches at the center (to help with this, a strap was added to the nets for pickleball players to be able to adjust to the correct height), while this has helped it has not been the ideal solution for pickleball players. Additionally, staff has heard from pickleball players that the large space between the baseline and the existing fence causes delays in play and is not ideal for playing pickleball. From the above-listed items, the intent for creating a dual space was a good idea, but it may be missing the mark on providing quality recreational facilities our community is looking for.