Beverly Hills to Revamp Pickleball Facilities After Public Outcry: Pickleball, which made its debut in Beverly Hills just four years ago, has quickly established a strong presence in the community. At the Recreation and Parks Commission meeting on August 27, over a dozen passionate players showed the sport’s impressive growth and its staying power. They urged the city to transition its pickleball “pilot” program into a permanent fixture, expand the number of courts, improve the condition of existing courts, and overhaul the online reservation system.
Commission’s Receptive Response
The commission, led by Chair Amie Sherry, acknowledged these concerns and signaled a readiness to act before the results of a pending survey on the pickleball program are available. “We all agree that it is time to move forward with a permanent program,” Sherry stated. “I don’t think that we need results of a survey to all agree that we need to permanently stripe our pickleball courts, upgrade our nets ASAP, make sure that we have safe and clean courts and all of the other things we can continue to work on.” Sherry, an avid player herself, highlighted the strong community spirit and enjoyment that the game builds.
Program’s History and Growth
The pickleball program, which launched in January 2020, faced a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic but resumed a year later. Since its relaunch, participation has surged, with over 5,140 reservations recorded between March 2021 and March 2022, and a remarkable increase to 11,261 reservations this year, up from 4,847 in 2023. In comparison, the city’s tennis courts saw 13,000 reservations this year, a significant rise from 7,034 in the previous year.
Call for Facility Improvements
Despite the sport’s growing popularity, some concerns about facility conditions persist. Alissa Roston, a former City Council candidate, criticized the maintenance of Roxbury Park’s courts, citing debris and safety hazards like potholes.
Deborah Frank echoed these sentiments, noting deficiencies in court markings, surfaces, and nets at both Roxbury and La Cienega parks. Franne Goldberg, another player, described the online reservation system as problematic, urging the commission to act swiftly on improvements without waiting for survey results.
“It’s disheartening, after being a resident for 40 years, to see that our parks are sorely lacking in proper facilities,” Deborah Frank said. “Both Roxbury and La Cienega [parks] fall short with inadequate court markings, uneven surfaces and broken nets. I know you’ve heard this before.”
Next Steps and Budget Considerations
The commissioners expressed unanimous support for the proposed changes, with Vice Chair Deborah Termeie emphasizing the benefits of pickleball for mental health and community cohesion.
“I agree with all of you. I support all of you,” Vice Chair Deborah Termeie said. “I think this is great for mental health. This is community, this is exercise, and we should have done this a long time ago.”
Community Services Director Stephanie Harris noted that while the program’s current costs are covered by her department’s budget, permanent upgrades and system overhauls will require additional funding. Harris anticipates a City Council vote on the matter in early October after discussions with council liaisons.
News in Brief: Beverly Hills to Revamp Pickleball Facilities After Public Outcry
The Beverly Hills Recreation and Parks Commission is poised to make significant changes to its pickleball program following strong public advocacy. Players have called for the program’s transition from a pilot to a permanent status, with demands for new courts, better maintenance of existing ones, and an improved reservation system.
The commission has agreed to begin implementing these changes, with a formal vote expected in early October. The pickleball program, which resumed in early 2021 after a pandemic hiatus, has seen a dramatic rise in reservations, reflecting its growing popularity in the community.
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