The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin work to revert the existing racquet courts at Kendale Woods Park to tennis-only courts. The move comes in response to concerns raised by the surrounding community pertaining to noise and as the site does not meet the court guidelines established with national best practices established with the Fairfax County Pickleball Study Report issued in December 2021.
The popularity of pickleball has grown significantly in recent years. The Park Authority has taken an aggressive approach in recent years to adding both courts dedicated solely for pickleball and dual-lined courts for tennis and pickleball in an effort to create more opportunities for athletes to play. The Park Authority currently maintains 84 pickleball facilities countywide, 16 of which have dedicated pickleball courts.
The dual-lined courts at Kendale Woods Park were installed prior to the completion of the Pickleball Study, which outlined several criteria for the placement of courts within residential areas – including proximity guidelines to mitigate noise intrusion for surrounding residences and parking availability. FCPA has determined that Kendale Woods Park does not meet the preferred criteria in either of these areas.
Beginning in early June, the Park Authority will begin the process of repainting and striping the court for tennis only. Work is expected to commence on Monday, June 3, with anticipated completion on Monday, June 17, weather permitting.
The Park Authority remains committed to providing diverse recreational opportunities for residents of all ages and interests. The process of identifying alternative locations to install new pickleball courts in place of those at Kendale Woods Park has begun. Until a new location can be identified, there are alternative locations for pickleball play located nearby at Annandale Park and Roundtree Park. Additional pickleball courts can be identified using the Park Amenity Locator tool.
For more information about pickleball in Fairfax County, visit the Pickleball website.