The Portland Athletic Club, Oregon’s only Black-owned tennis club, may close as early as March 1 unless a new buyer steps in. If not, the facility is expected to be converted into a pickleball venue under a pending sale agreement.
RECS, an indoor pickleball operator in Clackamas, has offered $4.95 million for the club’s 2-acre property at 5803 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway, according to court documents filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court. RECS has not commented on the potential sale.
Members Rally to Save Tennis Club
A group of club members is working to preserve the facility as a tennis club, citing its historical and community significance.
“If PAC is lost, we will lose a critical piece of Portland’s Black history and a thriving space that has empowered generations of players, offering affordable access to tennis, mentorship programs for youth, and a welcoming space for seniors to stay active.” – (Nikki Blackburn, club’s general manager)
The club was founded in the 1970s by Marion “Paps” Blackburn, Nikki Blackburn’s father, who was born in Jim Crow-era Alabama. After initially being denied entry into the Irvington Club, he became its first Black member and later opened PAC to make tennis more accessible.
Today, the club boasts the largest junior tennis program in Portland, along with newly updated courts, a renovated pool, and a staff of 22.
Financial and Legal Challenges
The potential sale is tied to a conservatorship for Paps Blackburn, who has dementia. A recent appraisal found that the club building has “no marketable value” due to deferred maintenance, estimating its lifespan at five to ten years.
Community members have launched a petition and media campaign in hopes of finding a buyer to keep PAC a tennis club.
However, court documents suggest that the sale to RECS is moving forward despite opposition from tennis supporters. “There is general disappointment that the buyer will be putting in pickleball,” the conservatorship document states.
“True tennis players will never be happy about this anymore than true downhill skiers will ever be happy about snowboarding. [Blackburn] knew that this was a possibility and chuckled ruefully about it, but he also knew it was a fun game for a lot of people and there is a crying need for pickleball courts.” – (conservatorship document)
Uncertain Future
The final decision on PAC’s fate remains uncertain, depending on whether an alternative buyer emerges in time. If no one steps forward, Portland will see one of its historic tennis facilities transformed into a pickleball venue in the coming months.
News in Brief: Portland Athletic Club
The Portland Athletic Club may close by March 1 unless a new buyer is found. RECS has offered $4.95 million to convert it into a pickleball facility. Club members are fighting to save the historic tennis venue, citing its cultural importance. A final decision is pending, but time is running out.
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