Pickleball players in San Francisco are facing increasing challenges as incidents of vandalism and tensions with tennis players rise. To avoid further confrontations, local players are proposing a solution—separate pickleball and tennis courts at Stern Grove.
“We won’t use the tennis courts, and they won’t use the pickleball courts. We’ll greet each other as we pass by,” explained Mary Hickey, a USA Pickleball ambassador, who promotes the sport through free weekly clinics at Presidio Wall.
During a recent Recreation and Park Commission meeting, Hickey and other pickleball enthusiasts requested the establishment of four dedicated pickleball courts alongside one tennis court at Stern Grove. This proposal contrasts with the current plan, which suggests a shared court model with dual lines to accommodate both sports.
Pickleball Court Proposal Gains Attention
The suggestion of separate courts caught the attention of Phil Ginsburg, General Manager of San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department. While Ginsburg acknowledged the idea’s merits, he cautioned that the decision to implement shared tennis and pickleball courts at Stern Grove may already be finalized due to existing contracts.
Ginsburg also noted issues with bad behavior on both sides, further highlighting the need for dedicated court space to prevent future disputes.
Before the August 2021 water main break that caused $20 million in damage and temporarily closed Stern Grove, tennis and pickleball players had shared the courts. As the courts are expected to reopen in fall 2024 with the hybrid model, Hickey and others expressed their dissatisfaction.
“Shared courts lead to vandalism, including slashed nets and aggressive altercations between tennis and pickleball players,” Hickey emphasized.
Separate Pickleball Courts: The Larsen Playground Model
Last year, the city considered building a dedicated pickleball complex at Stern Grove but opted to convert the tennis and basketball courts at Larsen Playground into eight permanent pickleball courts. The Tennis Coalition supported this move but opposed turning public tennis courts at Stern Grove into permanent pickleball facilities.
Now, pickleball advocates are urging the city to replicate the success of the Larsen Playground model at Stern Grove. In a detailed PowerPoint presentation, they highlighted recent incidents of vandalism, including the theft of six pickleball nets from Rossi Park and the destruction of nets at both Moscone Recreation Center and Buena Vista Park.
Tensions Between Tennis and Pickleball Players
The presentation also detailed a July 4 confrontation at Rossi Park, where two tennis players aggressively moved their nets onto a court during a pickleball game, leading to a shouting match and accusations of hazardous behavior. While tensions remain high, pickleball community leaders believe that dedicated courts would help resolve the ongoing disputes.
Both tennis and pickleball players seem to agree that permanent, separate courts are the best solution. These courts would eliminate shared use conflicts, reduce vandalism, and make both sports more accessible throughout the day.
“Clear boundaries and dedicated courts allow for smoother recreational play without tension,” said Lillian Murphy, another USA Pickleball ambassador. She also proposed that the pickleball community could contribute to the project through partnership funding to help cover additional costs.
Looking Ahead for San Francisco Pickleball
While Ginsburg acknowledged the community’s concerns, the current plan for shared courts at Stern Grove may remain in place. However, pickleball advocates like Peter Mueller remain optimistic, believing that the dialogue opened at the recent meeting will continue to push for more pickleball-friendly facilities in San Francisco.
