Temporary Allendale Park Pickleball Courts Up and Operating as Hunt for Permanent Location Continues

The City of Pasadena’s Recreation and Parks Commission will review an update Tuesday about the conversion of the tennis court at Allendale Park into temporary pickleball courts until a permanent location for the relatively new sport is found.

At the Commission’s first meeting for the year Tuesday, the City’s Public Works Department will brief the Commission on the status of the pickleball court and how patrons of the new sport have been using it since conversion work was completed in late December.

Last October, the City awarded a contract to Ferandell Tennis Courts Inc. to convert the Allendale Park tennis court. Work began in December and included installation of socketed pickleball net posts and nets, and repainting the court striping for pickleball use.

The Public Works Department said work was completed on December 28, and players have begun using the courts almost immediately.

Later in the month, the planning process for a permanent pickleball court in Pasadena will begin, as outlined in the Citywide Sports Facilities Improvements and Installations capital project for fiscal year 2018.

As directed by the Recreation and Parks Commission, the Public Works Department plans to lead an introductory meeting and working session on January 17 as the first step in the planning process.

A working group has been convened for the purpose, consisting of pickleball stakeholders, and staff from Public Works and the Human Services and Recreation Departments. Public Works is recommending that the Recreation and Parks Commission appoint a representative to join the working group.

The planning process will include identifying a location and developing a plan before recommending the next steps to the City Council for construction funding when a more precise estimate is ready.

Pickleball is a racket sport that originated from Bainbridge Island in Washington, at the home of former Washington State Representative Joel Pritchard who was later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The game has gained so much popularity in Pasadena that the City has been adding hours to the reprogrammed court at Allendale Park.

A Pasadena Pickleball Group has also been organized recently. The group meets and plays at Allendale Park every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, 6 to 10 p.m. for various levels of the game.

The Recreation and Parks Commission’s meeting Tuesday opens at 6 p.m. at the City Yards Second Floor, at 233 West Mountain Street in Pasadena.