Park Authority

CONTACT INFORMATION: Open during regular business hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
703-324-8700 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Pkwy.
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
Jai Cole
Executive Director

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Pickleball

woman playing pickleballGrowing in popularity nationwide, pickleball is a racquet-based sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. It may be played outdoors or indoors and is suitable for both singles and doubles play. The play experience varies, with some players focusing on the social atmosphere of a casual game and others preferring the fast pace of tournament-style competition. Pickleball courts and nets are smaller than their tennis counterparts. Historically, pickleball first found popularity among active adults and retirees as a less physically demanding alternative to tennis; however, today the sport is enjoyed by all ages and skill levels.

In 2021 the Fairfax County Park Authority published a comprehensive Pickleball Study to present findings and recommendations on how to strategically respond to the growing demand for pickleball courts in Fairfax County.

  • Courts are open to the public, first come first served, and open for drop-in, rotational play when not reserved.
  • Use at your own risk. 
  • Prohibited activities:
    • Pets on courts
    • Maintenance or alteration of courts
    • Use of courts other than Pickleball
  • Be courteous about time and limit play to one game when others are waiting.
  • If waiting to play, place paddle in rack or fence to hold next spot in line. For groups, place paddles together.
  • One player may not hold a court or use a court for practice when two or more players are waiting.
  • Reservations, private instruction or classes without a permit are prohibited. For more information, please visit Park Use Permits.

Find a pickleball class

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Find a pickleball court

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Pickleball Study Report

pickleball study report

Frequently Asked Questions

FCPA has nearly 90 pickleball courts offered throughout the county and continues to develop more. Find the locations of FCPA's pickleball courts using the Park Amenity Locator. 

Suitable pickleball court locations should consider the following:

  • Geography and access
  • Tennis use and court demand
  • Layout/spatial conditions: The number of players
  • Availability of parking
  • ADA Accessibility and connectivity
  • Court lighting
  • Environmental considerations
  • Neighborhood considerations
  • Adjacency/co-location compatibility
  • Community use
  • Distance between courts and homes
  • Operations
  • Cost
  • Maintenance.

For additional details, see pages 31-35 of the 2021 FCPA Pickleball Study and see the Update on Pickleball Study.

Shared-Use Courts: Tennis or basketball courts that also provide for pickleball. These courts typically have a fixed central tennis net and employ portable pickleball nets. As described in the study’s recommendations, a layout of two pickleball courts per tennis court is preferred.

Pickleball-Only or Dedicated Pickleball Courts: Specialty regulation-sized pickleball courts and nets are constructed solely to provide for pickleball. The courts are used for no other sport. For reference to layout and sizing, four pickleball courts occupy an area similar to one tennis court.

Tennis-Only or Dedicated Tennis Courts: Court and net dimensions are intended solely for tennis use.

Yes, please visit Park Use Permits for more information.

Game sessions where players “drop in” without advance reservation* to play other drop-in players. Play follows a rotation system for those players waiting for court space. The ability to support Drop-In play is a significant preference voiced by Fairfax County’s pickleball community.

* Courts may need to be reserved by a group or scheduled for drop-in play during specific times; the number of individual players attending a drop-in event varies.

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