May 2019

The final DESIGN PHASE steps are to conduct two open house format viewings of the final design, and associated construction documents and estimated costs. All are invited to drop in to either one to see and understand the current status of this project. Stay as long as you need, or drop by for 5 minutes. Both meetings are an open house format. Please drop in at either location, any time during the designated times. Two Library branches are the meeting locations (Not at Eckstein MS), both have some limited, free parking.

• Meeting 1 – May 7th (Tuesday) Green Lake Library branch meeting room ( 4:00 – 5:30 PM )
• Meeting 2 – May 8th (Wednesday) Northeast Library Branch meeting room ( 5:30 – 6:30 PM)

They are transitioning from Design to construction planning and funding – and this project is looking for its next group of stewards. It seems a good time to bring in a new leadership team, more closely tied to the Eckstein MS community. Kathy Schmidtke is no longer a parent of a current EMS student, and believe current parents, more closely connected to the school, its events and activities are better suited to promote this project into the next phase. She started this in 2017, and its time to pass the baton.

Many construction variables exist regarding the court surface repair process and final coating, fence repair vs. replacement. Cost estimates exist for a basic version, and a deluxe solution with associated costs from $ 40K – $ 80K. The next leadership team will need to determine what scale of fundraising is feasible and possible in the current climate of public grant funding availability. The next DON grant application date is September 2019. Partners: The Seattle Schools Self Help team (Operations) remains committed to support this project into the next phase. Seattle Parks Foundation continues to be our fiscal sponsor and is available to consult on the next phase of fundraising. Please feel free to submit any questions to: pickleballeckstein@gmail.com and more importantly, they need more folks to attend one of the meetings on 5/7 or 5/8/19 and sign in to help us meet the public process requirement for their grant from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON).

You can join the mailing list by texting the keyword: EMSpickleball to 22828 and an automated reply will ask them to enter an email address. Also, look for the Facebook group: Pickleball at Eckstein MS (NE Seattle)

April 2019

What they’ve said

The Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) pickleball pilot project led by the Planning and Development Division ended October 31, 2018. The study included the striping of multiple pilot sites across the city, site visits, input from players, staff and community members via meetings, emails and an online survey. SPR received substantial feedback about the pickleball community’s excitement and gratitude for the pilot program. There was also a great deal of desire expressed for dedicated pickleball courts. A report will be available in January 2019.

SPR will be working internally to determine next steps that include assessing the potential for additional court striping projects and the feasibility of dedicated courts.

What we are waiting for

After an extensive review by SMPA of possible dedicated pickleball court sites, SMPA delivered a full report on possible permanent outdoor pickleball facilities.
That list was prepared by an SMPA committee based on 40 suggested sites, reduced to eight based on factors that included current condition, access to bathroom
facilities, parking, local transportation, and reviewed against the City of Seattle Race and Social Justice criteria. The list is currently in the hands of the
SPR facilities team.

In April 2019, SMPA began meeting on a biweekly basis with the SPR working committee to map out an action plan based on the results of the 2018 pilot program.
The Board hopes to soon be able to report progress on a number of proposed pickleball facility possibilities around the metro area.

The courts were lined in late October. Nets were made available in November. This press release makes it official. Come out and play!

The Seattle Parks Department has added pickleball lines to existing outdoor tennis courts in seven locations to create a total of 24 new outdoor pickleball courts. Many thanks to all the pickleball players who attended meetings and wrote emails, and to the Pickleball Pilot Project Team at the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department!

The seven locations are:

• Delridge
• Discovery Park
• Georgetown
• Green Lake
• Miller
• Soundview
• South Park

Pickleball Nets

The new pickleball courts don’t have permanent pickleball nets. We will have to use portable pickleball nets instead. You can buy your own net, borrow one, or join a group that already has one.

Where to borrow a portable pickleball net

The Seattle Parks Department Pickleball Pilot Project Team has delivered portable nets, balls and wooden paddles that you can borrow to the Delridge, Green Lake, Miller, and South Park Community Centers, as well as at the Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center.

How to setup a portable pickleball net

There are many portable pickleball nets offered for sale. While they have small differences, you will learn most of what you need to know by watching this YouTube video:

Is there more we can do?

The Parks Department needs to know that their efforts are paying off. Make sure you send an email to pickleball@seattle.gov to let them know which new pickleball courts you are using and to thank them for making it possible.

And please Join! so that we can update you on progress and other opportunities to engage in getting the City of Seattle to increase our pickleball venues indoors and out across Seattle.

Thank you!
Seattle Metro Pickleball Association