FCPA PICKLEBALL STUDY
The comprehensive study, which began in 2020, was conducted due to the overwhelming demand for pickleball facilities at the time. Since its approval, FCPA staff has successfully delivered nearly 80 new pickleball courts for community use, with more on the way. In addition, community associations and other groups have risen to meet the demand for pickleball facilities. As of 2023, Fairfax County Park Authority has added several pickleball courts based on the findings and recommendations of the Pickleball Study. Moving forward, FCPA will continue to plan for pickleball courts as part of park master planning processes, in order to deliver complete park experiences that include a variety of facilities and amenities as guided by the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Access Strategy (PROSA).
BACKGROUND
The study was conducted by a cross-divisional Park Authority team and engaged with local pickleball stakeholder groups. The study utilized the results from a countywide survey asking participants to provide information about their preferences when playing pickleball and input about best practices and facility needs. The public input received throughout the study coupled with this in-depth research, benchmarking, and analysis informed the findings and recommendations in the Pickleball Study Report.
FCPA has successfully implemented and delivered many of the study’s recommendations, such as those listed below. As mentioned above, the primary mechanism for delivery of new pickleball courts moving forward will be through the park master plan process, per the study recommendations:
- Existing shared use pickleball courts sharing a central tennis net (one on one) should be updated to the recommended (two on one) layout with movable nets as recommended in this report. Converting these existing courts will create several locations with four pickleball courts to better facilitate group play.
- Using future park bonds and other funding sources, consider the design and construction of at least two pickleball-only facilities suitable for large group drop-in play and tournaments (six or more courts). Dedicated tennis court/s that are determined to be underutilized or shared-use courts that are primarily used for pickleball within the Park Authority’s inventory should be prioritized for conversion to a dedicated pickleball complex prior to considering building a new complex.
- Use the County’s existing public court inventory to create pickleball opportunities as part of ongoing maintenance efforts.
As mentioned above, the primary mechanism for delivery of new pickleball courts moving forward will be through the park master plan process, per the study recommendations:
- Plan for pickleball in new locations through the park master planning process.
The Fairfax County Park Authority Board endorsed the Park Authority Pickleball Study Report at their regular meeting on December 8, 2021. The report will serve as a guiding document for Park Authority pickleball site planning criteria, design, and operations of pickleball facilities. The full final report including the survey appendix can be accessed at the link below.
Pickleball Study Report
FCPA PARKS WITH PICKLEBALL FACILITIES
As of June 2023, FCPA has 76 pickleball courts offered throughout the County and continues to develop more. To find pickleball courts, please use our Park Locator online map. Turn on the “Pickleball Lined Court” filter to see which parks have dedicated pickleball courts or a tennis court dual-lined for pickleball.
FUTURE PICKLEBALL FACILITIES
As of FY24, the development of new pickleball courts are funded primarily by allocated court maintenance funds. The courts in the below lists meet the site selection criteria identified in the Pickleball Study and have been prioritized by staff based on a variety of considerations, including safety, appearance, equitable allocation or resources, and overall usage.
FISCAL YEAR 2023 PLANNED COURT IMPROVEMENTS
| Park | Supervisory District | Type | # of Pickleball Facilities | Status | Details | Project Webpage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalet Woods | Sully | Shared | 4 | Completed | 2 tennis courts closest to basketball court to be updated to (2 on 1) shared-use pickleball. 1 court to be tennis only |
N/A |
| Franconia Park | Franconia | Dedicated/ Shared |
6 | In Design | Convert 1 tennis court into 4 dedicated pickleball courts. Dual stripe 1 tennis court to (2 on 1) standard | N/A |
FISCAL YEAR 2024 PLANNED COURT IMPROVEMENTS
| Park | Supervisory District | Type | # of Pickleball Facilities | Status | Details | Project Webpage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stratton Woods | Hunter Mill | Shared | 2 | Completed | Update 1 dual-striped court to (2 on 1) standard. 1 court to be tennis only |
N/A |
| Cunningham | Hunter Mill | Shared | 2 | Completed | Update 1 tennis court to (2 on 1) shared-use standard. 1 court to be tennis only |
N/A |
| Annandale | Mason | Shared | 2 | Completed | Update 1 tennis court to (2 on 1) shared-use standard. 1 court to be tennis only |
N/A |
| Mason Neck West | Mount Vernon | Shared | 2 | In Design | Update 1 tennis court to (2 on 1) shared-use standard. 1 court to be tennis only |
N/A |
MORE INFORMATION
For further information, please contact the Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.