City Park Pickleball Complex Attendance: Burlington’s new 17-court pickleball complex at City Park is not drawing as many players as expected. To boost attendance, the city council voted to ease restrictions for non-residents and lower fees starting August 1.
Players Prefer Fairchild Park
Chris Sams of Burlington enjoys playing pickleball at Fairchild Park with his son. He visited the City Park complex on opening day but never returned.
“We went there for opening day,”. “And we haven’t been back since. We like playing in Fairchild Park because that’s where the people are.”( Chris Sams)
Many others feel the same way, favoring the smaller, six-court Fairchild Park over the City Park facility.
Council Reacts to Low Attendance
In a recent city council meeting, Rachel Vinson, Burlington’s pickleball manager, shared concerns about poor attendance at City Park. She said the facility was empty for about half its hours in May and June.
“At Fairchild, the usage has been very high,”. “And people are not coming from there to use City Park.”(Rachel Vinson)
To attract more players, especially from outside Burlington, the council voted to allow non-residents to use the courts without being a guest of a city resident. The drop-in fee for out-of-town players will drop from $7 to $3 on August 1.
Fairchild’s Appeal
Fairchild Park is free and open to all. There are no staff or reservation systems, and the courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Despite being smaller and less organized, players prefer it for its relaxed and social setting.
Tony Laws, the city’s recreation director, explained the challenge.
“We thought the restrictions at City Park were good because residents got the advantage,”. “But they want to go where all their friends are playing.”(Tony Laws)
Membership Options Added
To offer more value, Burlington will now allow non-residents to buy monthly pickleball memberships for $30. This includes unlimited play and access to programs like camps and skills classes. City residents already have the option to pay $20 monthly for similar benefits.
Fairchild Park will remain free for everyone, and this open access drew support from Council Member Dejuana Bigelow.
“My family plays at Fairchild,”. “And we have met people there from out-of-town and people from Burlington. We have even met people there who were holding a business meeting over pickleball.”(Dejuana Bigelow)
Looking Ahead
City leaders hope the new rules and lower fees will bring more players to the City Park complex. They want to make sure the investment in the large facility is worthwhile, while still supporting popular spaces like Fairchild Park.
News in Brief: City Park Pickleball Complex Attendance
Burlington’s new pickleball complex at City Park isn’t attracting as many players as expected. Most players prefer Fairchild Park, which is smaller and free. To improve usage, the city will ease residency rules and lower fees for non-residents starting August 1. Membership options are also expanding to boost participation.
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