Pickleball Court Debate Palo Alto: Pickleball’s rapid rise in Palo Alto has sparked a heated debate at Mitchell Park, where supporters are pushing for more courts while tennis players and neighbors push back. The Palo Alto Parks and Recreation Commission heard both sides this week as the city considers converting more tennis courts to pickleball use.
A Growing Sport Meets Resistance
Pickleball has expanded in Palo Alto since 2018, when three tennis courts were first striped for dual use. Today, the city has eight dedicated courts and seven shared ones, with pickleball given priority.
Despite this, demand continues to outpace supply. On a recent Thursday evening, 52 players were on the courts while 61 more waited, according to Adam Howard, senior community services manager.
“Tennis courts were full with tennis, pickleball courts were full with pickleball,” Howard said.
Push for More Courts
David Siegel, president of the Palo Alto Pickleball Club, urged the city to convert two of the four remaining tennis courts at Mitchell Park into eight new pickleball courts. He said the club would cover the $150,000 cost.
“Removing the two tennis courts to create eight pickleball courts simply reallocates existing court space in a far more optimal way through the lens of community wellness,” Siegel said.
He added that Mitchell Park is better suited for pickleball than smaller parks near homes.
“We recognize noise is a real issue in some other cities where pickleball courts are situated close to residential buildings,” Siegel said. “We are fortunate that Mitchell Park is well suited far from the nearest residents, with trees and buildings in between. And the residential noise is simply not an issue.”
Opposition From Tennis Players and Neighbors
Dozens of tennis players and nearby residents strongly opposed the proposal, citing noise, parking shortages, and fairness. The city received two dozen letters against the plan before the hearing.
Alan Kaiser, a tennis player, said, “You go in the park, you hear ‘Click Click Click’ all the time — it doesn’t feel like a park anymore. Tennis never has that problem. Tennis has some nice sounds to it. It’s not like pickleball.”
James Fox, who lives nearby, added, “I sit in my backyard and all day and all night, I hear the pickleball in my backyard.”
Some neighbors argued the issue was about residents’ rights to enjoy local spaces. “The Pickleball Club thinks it can buy their way in to displace the residents’ rights to amenities? That is totally not right,” said south Palo Alto resident Jennie Chan.
Support From Others
Not all neighbors opposed expansion. John Wang, president of the Stevenson House board of directors, said the senior community near Mitchell Park has received no complaints about noise.
“To the contrary, the staff and residents view the pickleball courts as an asset, as the residents can walk to the courts, borrow paddles, and get exercise and have fun without spending money or driving a car,” Wang wrote.
Commissioners were also split. Amanda Brown said, “Just because the noise of pickleball isn’t as pleasing as the tennis ‘Pop’ sound doesn’t mean we shouldn’t allow it to be in our parks.”
Chair Nellis Freeman agreed, adding, “I think we all realize that pickleball is more than just a trend. It’s not going away. It’s become a critical source of physical activity, outdoor engagement and social connections for our residents.”
Others disagreed. Vice Chair Jeff Greenfield said, “I do believe this latest request is going too far. I think it fragments the tennis community at Mitchell Park too much — beyond the point of no return.”
Commissioner Shani Kleinhaus warned that noise affects not just neighbors but other park users. “As you expand the noise sphere, people enjoy the park less. Some of them may not come anymore where other people will be coming to enjoy their sport,” she said.
What Comes Next
The commission did not make a final recommendation. Some members suggested building courts elsewhere or using a registration system to manage demand. For now, the debate reflects a larger question facing cities across the region: how to balance the popularity of pickleball with the needs of tennis players, neighbors, and other park users.
News in Brief: Pickleball Court Debate Palo Alto
Palo Alto’s pickleball boom has fueled conflict at Mitchell Park. The city heard arguments for and against converting tennis courts into more pickleball space. Supporters cite demand and wellness benefits, while opponents worry about noise, parking, and fairness. No decision has been made, leaving the issue unresolved.
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