“We Need More Pickleball Courts. I Get It. I Hear You.” – Bruce Harrell

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In early 2020, Theresa Mosqueda wrote in an email “Pickleball players, we heard you loud and clear” hinting that the city budget might include some new pickleball funding.

BUT:
The funding never materialized.

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In March 2020, after extensive public input, SPR released an updated Strategic Plan to guide programming, services, and investments from 2020 to 2032. The new plan summarized hundreds of pickleball players’ comments this way:

and

BUT:
Seattle Parks proceeded to change absolutely nothing to its pickleball programming, services, or investments.

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Pickleball players reached out to Seattle City Council member Tammy Morales and in late 2021, Tammy Morales responded by sponsoring a city budget amendment titled “Add $50,000 GF to SPR to support adding pickleball court lines to existing tennis courts.” It said:

This Council Budget Action would add $50,000 REET I to Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) to support adding pickleball court lines to existing tennis courts in the City. This funding could support the lining of 25 new pickleball courts. Funding would be targeted to low-income communities where there is a deficiency in pickleball courts.

The amendment was adopted. Thank you, council member Morales!

BUT:
Seattle Parks spent only a fifth of the money painting lines for 8 pickleball courts in a single low-income community. It spent another fifth of the money painting pickleball lines in two high-income communities. It spent the rest of the money on semi-permanent nets that as of July 31, 2023, have not yet materialized.

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