Pickleball gamers protest Seattle plan to take away dozens of courts

Pickleball gamers are making their voices heard after the City of Seattle drafted a brand new plan that would wipe out dozens of courts.

According to Seattle’s “Racquet Sports Strategy” plan, the town would take away pickleball strains from public tennis courts, clearly separating the 2 sports activities. During the pandemic, the town added pickleball strains to current tennis courts to satisfy the exploding demand for the burgeoning sport.

The proposal would scale back the variety of pickleball courts from 92 to 56. Thirty-two courts that incorporate pickleball could be misplaced throughout seven neighborhoods in Seattle. Tennis would have 107 courts throughout the town.

Pickleball gamers and fans are petitioning the town to rethink.

In 2025, pickleball, whose origins date again to Bainbridge Island simply exterior of Seattle, the place it was invented in 1965, was topped the fastest-growing sport within the U.S. for a 3rd yr in a row, in keeping with SFIA’s Topline Participation Report. Pickleball has grown 51.8% from 2022 to 2023, and by 224% during the last three years. Every age demographic noticed a rise in participation throughout this era.

In May 2023, Seattle had essentially the most pickleball courts per 100,000 individuals within the U.S., although it has since been surpassed by Louisville, Kentucky; Madison, Wisconsin; and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Noise complaints pressure Seattle pickleball courts to vary hours

Last yr, three pickleball courts in Seattle needed to set new hours after a number of noise complaints had been filed.

According to the Seattle Parks and Recreation, pickleball courts at Gilman Playground, Laurelhurst Playfield, and Mt. Baker Park at the moment are open at 7 a.m. and shut at 10 p.m. after close by residents repeatedly filed noise complaints to the town.

“SPR Planning Unit staff worked with representatives from the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) to conduct sound studies to determine the existence of potential violations,” the city stated. “It was found that due to the proximity of these courts to nearby residences, the noise being generated from use exceeds the legislative limitations.”

Gilman Playground was initially open from 4 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., whereas courts at Laurelhurst Playfield and Mt. Baker Park had been open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

On weekends and city-observed holidays, the courts shall be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Locks shall be placed on the courts for 30 days to implement the brand new hours if there’s proof that somebody makes use of the services exterior these durations. The locks might turn into everlasting if there are additional violations.

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