Pickleball fans flock to Pasadena's Viña Vieja Park to see new courts

On Thursday, August 15, numerous pickleball fans came out to check out Pasadena’s newest venue – the pickleball courts at Viña Vieja Park.

Unveiled by city officials and local leaders during a grand opening ceremony attended by hundreds of people, the site at 3026 E. Orange Grove Blvd. features three handicap/wheelchair accessible pickleball courts, as well as improved amenities such as fencing, benches and trash receptacles. The existing parking lot at the site has also been expanded to provide 14 new spaces.

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Players wait to try out three new pickleball courts at Viña Vieja Park in Pasadena on Thursday, August 15, 2024. In addition to the three new handicap/wheelchair accessible pickleball courts, the city added benches, trash cans, plantings and irrigation, and expanded the existing parking lot by 14 spaces. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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“We’ve had a lot of meetings with the community since 2017 and 2018, and the community has told us we want pickleball courts at this location,” said Councilman Gene Masuda of District 4, where the new courts are located.

Pasadena has become a pickleball hub in recent years, leading to an increasing demand for more pickleball courts within the city.

The courts at Allendale Park have long been popular with locals and visitors, but they are not enough to meet the increasing demand that has grown both locally and nationally.

Pickleball, a sport invented in 1965 and often described as similar to tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has seen a significant rise in popularity. According to a report by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, there were around 4.8 million pickleball players in the United States in 2022.

Despite its popularity, the noise of the rackets used in pickleball play can be loud, which has led to noise complaints in various communities across the country.

To address potential noise issues from the new plazas, Masuda said city staff met with area residents, including representatives from the Daisy-Villa Neighborhood Association and the East Eaton Wash Neighborhood Association. He said all feedback was positive.

The new courts were built from scratch and not converted from existing tennis courts, he added. Masuda also said the three new courts will eventually be expanded to a total of 12.

“That’s part of the growth,” he said. “Our staff really listens to the community, and that’s why we’ve been able to successfully build pickleball courts.”

Originally published: August 15, 2024 at 3:13 pm

Pickleball fans flock to Pasadena’s Viña Vieja Park to see new courts – Pasadena Star News

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