Grover Beach is getting its first pickleball courts. Here’s where and why
Grab a paddle get ready to play one of the “fastest-growing sports in America” — Grover Beach is launching its first trial pickleball courts.
At its meeting Tuesday night, the City Council approved a pickleball court pilot program that would overlay four courts on the existing tennis court at Mentone Basin Park.
These will be the first pickleball courts in the city, though there have been some at neighboring Arroyo Grande’s Soto Sports Complex for several years.
According to a city news release, pickleball is “one of the fastest-growing sports in America.” It combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong and is played with a perforated plastic ball and composite or wooden paddles about twice the size of ping-pong paddles.
The courts are expected to be ready for play this spring.
“We have been hearing from our community that there is a desire for pickleball courts and so this pilot program will allow us to gauge the extent of that demand and popularity of pickleball within Grover Beach, as well as test out the best way to operate a co-located court,” Grover Beach Parks and Recreation Program Director Kathy Petker said in a release.
Petker said the plan is for the park to have designated tennis and pickleball hours “that would prioritize play hours for each sport respectively on a daily basis.”
According to the release, if players do not show up during the designated hours, then the court will be available to all players on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tennis players will still also have the courts at Grover Heights Park and Hero Park if the Mentone Basin Park court is filled.
Volunteers would assist with setting up pickleball nets and providing community members with paddles and pickleballs, which will be stored on site, according to the release. Those interested in coordinating can contact the Parks and Recreation Department at gbparks@groverbeach.org.
City Manager Matthew Bronson said the new program will allow the city to “further activate our park spaces” and “encourage more outdoor activity for individuals with a range of ages and abilities.”
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