Pickleball Expansion in Santa Cruz: As pickleball continues rising as America’s fastest-growing sport, Santa Cruz is grappling with expanding its footprint. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department is exploring potential locations for its first pickleball courts, including a controversial proposal to convert the Depot Bike Park into a four-court facility.
“In 2017, fewer than half of the largest U.S. cities offered formalized pickleball courts. Today, parks and recreation departments have embraced the sport, spurring the installment of more than 3,000 courts across 100 of the most populated cities in the country.” – (CNBC report)
Tony Elliot, Santa Cruz’s Director of Parks and Recreation, emphasized the importance of addressing the growing demand.
“It remains a key priority from our parks master plan and something we continue to work on.” – (Tony Elliot)
Elliot stated, noting the city has been “behind the times” in accommodating pickleball players. The Parks and Recreation team is also evaluating other sites, such as San Lorenzo Park, and Harvey West Park, and a partnership with UC Santa Cruz.
Community Meeting Sparks Debate
The proposal to replace the BMX park sparked heated discussion at a community meeting held this week. Advocates like Mark Dettle, president of the Santa Cruz Pickleball Club, highlighted the growing need for dedicated courts while expressing a willingness to collaborate.
“We’ve been working with Parks and Rec on a couple locations. They just haven’t panned out, and there are multiple agencies involved. … We’re happy to work with them to find a good overall solution.” – (Mark Dettle)
However, BMX riders voiced concerns over losing the park, which has been a community hub since 2009. Andrew Clifton, a BMX rider, argued that young bikers lack the resources to develop their skills elsewhere, underscoring the emotional stakes for both communities.
“It’s not fair that the kids today don’t have the resources to build their skills.” – (Andrew Clifton)
Balancing Recreation Needs
Elliot acknowledged the difficulty of balancing diverse recreational interests while maintaining the city’s core sports identity, which includes biking, skateboarding, and surfing. While the BMX park remains in focus, Elliot noted that alternative sites for pickleball could offer larger, more suitable facilities.
“Right now, we’re working on three different other sites,” Elliot explained, pointing to the city’s extensive park system, which includes 1,800 acres across 50 properties.
“The city has 50 park properties including open spaces and beaches, and that represents 1,800 acres of land. Within the city, there’s 32 neighborhood parks and a handful of community parks. It’s an old park system.” – (Elliot)
Pickleball’s Future in Santa Cruz
Despite the tensions, collaboration between pickleball players and BMX riders has emerged as a positive outcome of the meeting. Dettle emphasized the need for patience and mutual understanding as the city works toward a solution. “I wouldn’t take this as pickleball vs. bikes,” Dettle remarked, showing support for maintaining BMX facilities while pursuing other options for pickleball.
“When I was in Scotts Valley, raising my sons, I worked on getting the skate park. I understand what it takes to do it. A park, it’s really a lot of work and things deteriorate. I hope they get the money to repair it if that’s the best use.” – (Dettle)
Santa Cruz’s robust park system offers unique opportunities to accommodate both growing sports. With ongoing discussions and community feedback, the city remains optimistic about finding a path forward that serves everyone.
News in Brief: Pickleball Expansion in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is exploring new locations for its first pickleball courts, spurred by the sport’s rising popularity. A proposal to convert Depot Bike Park into a pickleball facility has drawn strong opposition from BMX riders, who value the park as a vital community resource.
While advocates like the Santa Cruz Pickleball Club support collaboration, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department is also vetting alternative sites, including San Lorenzo Park and UC Santa Cruz. With over 1,800 acres of parkland, Santa Cruz aims to expand pickleball’s presence while balancing recreational needs.
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