​Greater Seattle Drop-in Pickleball Calendar

What happened to the $50,000 Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales allocated to Seattle Parks to paint lines for 25 pickleball courts in low-income communities in 2022?

As a result of Seattle City Council Member Tammy Morales' leadership, $50,000 was added to Seattle's 2022 Parks and Recreation (SPR) budget to "support the lining of 25 new pickleball courts on existing tennis courts. Funding was to be targeted to low-income communities."

SPR painted lines for eight pickleball courts on the Rainier Beach Playfield tennis courts in Southeast Seattle at a total cost of about $9600. SPR also painted lines for another eight pickleball courts in two neighborhoods that are not low-income: Lines for four pickleball courts on the Alki Playground tennis courts, and lines for four pickleball courts on the Gilman Playground tennis courts. In total, lining all 16 of these courts required less than 40% of the $50,000 added by the City Council.

Despite the Council's clearly stated intent, SPR decided that it was more important to purchase pickleball nets than to line more pickleball courts. They recently ordered twelve additional semi-permanent pickleball nets for about $30,000. Thus about 60% of the $50,000 budget is being spent on nets. SPR has not yet communicated where these nets will be installed.

We wanted pickleball court lines because once lines are painted at a location, we can raise money for pickleball nets to be placed at that location. That is how most of the semi-permanent pickleball nets in Seattle have been acquired to date. The same can’t be said for pickleball lines: we can’t raise money for pickleball lines. So, this was a wasted opportunity to get more pickleball court lines.

If we want to ensure SPR carries out Council intent next time, a Budget Proviso must be must be passed with any future budget action.

Please thank Council Member Morales and her staff member, Imani Carey, for their leadership in creating more pickleball opportunities for our communities. E-mails of appreciation can be sent to: tammy.morales@seattle.gov and to her staff: imani.carey@seattle.gov .

And better yet, help us re-elect Tammy Morales!!

Here is how it works. First, you have to register:

1. Go to the Playtime Scheduler web site.
2. Click the Register button.
3. Select Greater Seattle Area, WA as your region.
4. Fill in your information. including your zip code and skill level.
5. Click on the Register button.

Now, make it suit your needs:

1. Click on the My Account button.
2. Click on Email Preferences.
3. Tell the system when you are available to play pickleball and how far from home you are willing to travel.

That's it. You are now ready to join an existing session or create your own session and invite people to join. When someone creates a new session that fits your availability, your travel zone, and your skill level, you will receive an email.

If you have any question, please email infotimeforpickleball.com.

See you on the courts!

• Added Perrigo Park (Redmond)
• Rainier Beach (Seattle) now has official play on MWF evening.
• Starting in April, Friday pickleball at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center Gymnasium will start 15 minutes earlier and last 15 minutes longer.
• Bellevue's Hidden Valley Field House hosts pickleball on Wednesdays and Fridays. (Thanks, Kathryn!)
• Evening open play at St Edward now goes from 6 to 10pm.
• Pickleball at the Queen Anne Community Center now goes until 3pm. (Thank you, Tom!)

• The South Park Community Center is now hosting pickleball on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. (Thank you, Jean)
• The Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center is open again for pickleball .