Ridgefield Set for Major Pickleball Expansion: With Ridgefield anticipating a 30% population growth over the next decade, the city’s Parks Manager, Corey Crownhart, is preparing for a surge in demand for pickleball, Washington’s official sport. Speaking to the Ridgefield Parks Board on Sept. 11, Crownhart highlighted the need for expanded pickleball facilities while acknowledging challenges related to noise and location.
Crownhart shared data from Clark County, showing a 40% increase in pickleball demand over the past five years. However, the city currently offers just two indoor courts at the Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Services Center, which are not exclusively dedicated to pickleball.
“We’re seeing demand skyrocket, but Ridgefield simply doesn’t have enough spaces to meet it.” – (Crownhart)
Noise Challenges in Residential Areas
A key obstacle in developing new pickleball courts is the noise generated by the sport. With sound levels reaching 60 to 70 decibels from 30 to 50 feet away, nearby residents may find the noise disruptive. Crownhart stressed that this is an issue many cities have encountered when planning pickleball courts close to neighborhoods.
“Some would compare it to Tick-Tock, the crocodile from Peter Pan … While it is not necessarily going to cause any physical harm, it could be quite annoying for those who are near it.” – (Crownhart)
He noted that local opposition has been growing in cities where courts are placed close to homes.
Proposed Solutions: Dual-Purpose Facilities
To address this issue, Crownhart proposed using “dual-purpose facilities” in industrial areas far from residential zones. He cited Seattle as an example, where pickleball courts share space with infrastructure like water towers. Ridgefield could adopt a similar approach by utilizing city-owned utility management properties for shared-use spaces.
“There’s plenty of opportunities for us to find ways to have pickleball courts added to these properties,” Crownhart said, pointing out that these areas already have adequate parking and are situated away from homes.
Board Support and Recommendations
Members of the Parks Board expressed strong support for the dual-purpose facilities idea. Board member Beth Bicknell emphasized the importance of steering clear of natural areas and residential zones, favoring more industrial spaces.
“I would hope we could have pickleball… go more toward areas that already have the noise,” Bicknell said, demanding a strategic approach to avoid conflicts with nature and residential tranquility.
Board member Sandy Schill also supported the focus on industrial areas, particularly on the east side of the freeway, where there is less of a conflict with Ridgefield’s west side, which balances development with nature.
“One of the great things [the City Council] has done is [that] just about all development in [west] Ridgefield is near nature,” Schill said, praising the city’s efforts to maintain natural spaces within developments.
News in Brief: Ridgefield Set for Major Pickleball Expansion
As Ridgefield braces for a 30% population increase over the next decade, Parks Manager Corey Crownhart presented plans to expand pickleball facilities in the city, citing a 40% rise in demand over the past five years. Noise concerns, however, could limit the placement of outdoor courts near residential areas.
Crownhart proposed dual-purpose facilities, similar to those in Seattle, as a solution, with support from the Parks Board to focus on industrial zones and shared-use spaces away from homes and nature reserves.
ALSO READ: South Carolina’s Pickleball Expansion: Why Clarendon County Residents Are Demanding New Courts Now!
