Title
Recommendation to Authorize Staff to Convert One Tennis Court to Four Pickleball Courts at Washington Park.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Review and Recommend Converting One Tennis Court to Four Pickleball Courts at Washington Park.
BACKGROUND
In 2016, the Recreation and Parks Department converted the underutilized tennis court at Lincoln Park into four pickleball Courts. The continued popularity and ongoing interest in this program has resulted in the need to develop and provide additional opportunities within the community.
Pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, is a paddleball sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. It is played in either singles or doubles format on a court that is a quarter the size of tennis.
Washington Park is located in Central Alameda at 8th Street and Central Avenue. The tennis court complex, located in Lower Washington Park is heavily utilized and has lighting and adjacent parking.
DISCUSSION
Pickleball is an activity that is especially attractive to individuals no longer able to play tennis, active seniors, and is now growing to include families and youth participants. Since the playing area is smaller than a tennis court, participants enjoy the benefits of tennis while being able to handle the rigors of the game. Additionally, the ease of learning and playing allows people to strengthen their self-esteem and socialize while playing. The current facility at Lincoln Park no longer fulfills the community demand for pickleball.
It is proposed that the Washington Tennis Court #4 (Exhibit 1), which is one tennis court, be converted into four pickleball courts. The scope of work includes repair, resurface and lining the existing court into four pickleball courts. Damaged portions of the wind screen will be removed and replaced.
Staff considered multipl...
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