Wellesley Pickleball Courts: The Wellesley Natural Resources Commission voted this week to move forward with a new design for the Hunnewell courts that will allow both pickleball and tennis players to use the space. The decision came after a heated public meeting on June 4, where players from both sports voiced strong opinions.
Community Voices Support for Pickleball
Pickleball enthusiasts turned out in large numbers for the NRC meeting at Wellesley Town Hall. They wanted to ensure that new lines for pickleball would remain on the courts as part of the town-approved refurbishment plan. Resident Kenna Juliani told the commission,
“I want to remind the NRC that over the past several years, the Wellesley pickleball community has willingly compromised as continuous restrictions have been put on our ability to play pickleball at town-supported resources. It’s now time for the tennis community to do this, as they have four additional underutilized courts at Sprague.” – (Kenna Juliani)
Ashley Quates also supported compromise. After expressing frustration with earlier comments accusing pickleball players of not caring about student-athletes, she urged both sides to “protect their turf” less and work together.
Balancing Tennis and Pickleball Needs
The issue stems from an Annual Town Meeting vote to line two of the eight Hunnewell courts for both sports. As the NRC worked on the final design, they heard concerns from tennis players and coaches that U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) standards must be met.
Tennis parent John Harmon stressed that the courts need a single color surface and that USTA offers support for making the courts compliant.
However, pickleball players countered that their sport also deserves a place on town courts, especially after facing several limitations in recent years.
NRC Votes for a Compromise Design
After reviewing several design options, the NRC selected a “chromatic” design. This plan features similar but distinct colors for tennis and pickleball lines, aiming to balance both sports’ needs. NRC member Steve Park said,
“I like this design. It seems to be a reasonable, but not perfect, compromise. There was a really nice note from a Town Meeting member today that said ‘Compromise is essential for a town to function as a community.’” – (Steve Park)
Athletic Director John Brown supported a no-infill color option but added, “We want to make this work. We also don’t want to hurt our tennis program.” The NRC also agreed to consult the USTA to confirm whether the new design will comply with official rules.
What’s Next for Wellesley Pickleball Players
The Hunnewell courts will close for refurbishment starting June 16. In the meantime, temporary pickleball courts are available at MassBay’s Oakland Street parking lot. The updated Hunnewell courts are expected to reopen this fall, providing improved playing space for both tennis and pickleball fans.
News in Brief: Wellesley Pickleball Courts
Wellesley NRC approved a new court design allowing pickleball and tennis at Hunnewell courts. The chromatic design balances both sports’ needs after community debate. Courts close June 16 for updates. Pickleball players can use temporary courts at MassBay until fall reopening.