Santa Ynez Elementary School Pickleball Courts: Santa Ynez Elementary School celebrated the opening of new sports courts on Tuesday morning, July 29, at 3325 Pine Street in Santa Ynez, California. The updated facility now includes one full-size tennis court and four new pickleball courts, available to both students and the public.
The College School District held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion. This project upgraded two existing tennis courts. One court was resurfaced for tennis, while the other was split into four pickleball courts. The new setup allows up to 16 people to play pickleball at once, compared to four in a regular tennis match.
Funding for the project came from the Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation Grant and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. Superintendent Maurene Donner said the district asked for help from the community after bond measures to fund the project failed.
“We are just so grateful for the local partnerships that made this happen,” Maurene Donner told Noozhawk, adding that the new courts promote wellness and help get students outside and moving.
Designed for Students and the Public
The courts will mainly be used by students during school hours for physical education and other outdoor activities. After school and on weekends, the courts will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
Benches will soon be added along the sidelines to offer seating for players and spectators. These are still being assembled and will be installed shortly.
“When fall starts, of course, the school has first priority,” Maurene Donner said, “but we definitely want the community to be able to utilize the courts after school and on the weekends.”
A Step Toward Growing Pickleball in Schools
Pickleball is a paddle sport that looks like a smaller, slower game of tennis. It can be played in singles or doubles. Converting one tennis court into four pickleball courts makes room for more players at once.
Greg Blessing, the school’s physical education teacher and athletic director, hopes these new courts will get more students interested in pickleball. Maurene Donner said that while the sport is not yet offered at the middle school level, it could become more popular if more courts are built nearby in places like Solvang and Buellton.
Why This Matters
The new courts are expected to make a big difference in student wellness by giving kids more chances to play outside. They also bring new activity options to the local community. With rising interest in pickleball, the district hopes to see even more schools joining in as space and resources grow.
News in Brief: Santa Ynez Elementary School Pickleball Courts
Santa Ynez Elementary School opened four pickleball courts and one tennis court on July 29, 2025. The upgrade was funded by local grants and donations. The courts will be used by students during school and open to the public after hours. Local leaders hope this encourages more youth sports.