At the heart of the Magnuson Park Pickleball project is the belief that pickleball is more than a sport, it’s a way to foster community, enhance mental well-being, and promote a healthy lifestyle.
About the project
Magnuson Park: The ideal place for pickleball
As part of its long-term strategy to meet the growing demand of pickleball, Seattle Parks has been seeking suitable sites for dedicated pickleball courts since publishing a study in 2019.
The Magnuson Park Master Plan calls for the construction of a ball field where the E5 parking lot currently sits. Seattle Parks is seeking an amendment to build pickleball courts instead.
The Fastest Growing Sport needs a place to grow
Research from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) found that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the nation, growing 223% in the last 3 years. Data suggests it's growing just as fast, if not faster here in Seattle.
Yet Seattle ranks as the 17th worst city in the nation for dedicated pickleball courts per 10,000 people, according to that same SFIA research.
To meet the current and future demand for both recreational play and organized events, Seattle needs 25 courts at Magnuson Park.
Take Action: Show your support
Send an email to Seattle City Council in support of pickleball courts at Magnuson Park. We need them to vote in favor of amending the park’s master plan. You don’t need a Seattle address to support. We’ve made it easy for you. Just click on the button below.
The Plan: 25 courts
Seattle Parks and Recreation currently has funding to build 8-10 courts at the E5 parking lot at Magnuson Park.
They support SMPA’s efforts to raise funding to build 25. Together we can create something amazing!
U.S.Air Force Colonel Dr. Bob Hassan
A pickleball player in service to country and community
Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Dr. Bob Hassan was a passionate pickleball player in northeast Seattle. He served his nation proudly, first as a U.S. Navy flight surgeon, then as a U.S. Air Force “Full Bird” Colonel flight surgeon, followed by five years in the Air Force Reserves.
He organized social groups for seniors including pinochle, bocce, and pickleball, and was a regular fixture at the Maple Leaf and Green Lake pickleball courts. He loved playing pickleball at Magnuson Park, where he taped pickleball lines on the old tennis courts in the heart of the park. He would often talk about building dedicated courts there.
From Sand Point Way tragedy, to healing legacy
In 2019, Bob was tragically taken from us when he became the random victim of a carjacking while driving home on Sand Point Way in Lake City.
The Bob Hassan Courts at Magnuson Park is a project seeking to honor Bob’s memory by completing his dream of building dedicated courts and creating a vibrant community where friends, fitness, mental health and well-being come together through the state sport of pickleball.
We believe in the power of pickleball to engage, inspire, empower, unify, heal, persevere and allow the spirit to soar. There is no better place to honor the service of U.S. Air Force Colonel Dr. Bob Hassan and his contributions to the local community than at the former Sand Point Naval Air Station at Magnuson Park.