GREEN LAKE – OUR FIRST DEDICATED PICKLEBALL HUB

Seattle Metro Pickleball Association and Seattle Parks to Host a Celebration of Green Lake East, the First-Ever Dedicated Pickleball Hub

Seattle Metro Pickleball Association (SMPA), in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and Green Lake Pickleball (GLP) are pleased to announce a special public celebration of Seattle Parks’ first dedicated Pickleball Hub on Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 10 am-2 pm at the Green Lake East Courts. The 8 newly designated pickleball hub courts are part of the first-ever dedicated Seattle hub solely for the play of pickleball.

Pickleball fans young and old are invited to join the festivities at Green Lake. There will be a family pickleball court for parents and their children as well as open play on the newly dedicated hub courts during the event. Extra balls and pickleball paddles will be supplied by SMPA. Attendees are invited to enter a raffle for a chance to win some cool pickleball gear, while having an opportunity to meet some of Seattle’s local dignitaries who will be on hand to help Seattle pickleball players celebrate on this special occasion.

Attendees include AP Diaz, Superintendent of Seattle Parks & Recreation, Andy Sheffer, Deputy Superintendent of Planning & Capital Development, Seattle Parks & Recreation, Jonathan Garner, Sr. Planning & Development Specialist, Seattle Parks & Recreation, Frank Chiappone, President, Seattle Metro Pickleball Association, Peter Seitel, Representative, Green Lake Pickleball, Senator John Lovick, Washington State Senator, and Senator Javier Valdez, Washington State Senator.

“SMPA is proud to have worked with the Green Lake pickleball community and Seattle Parks in naming the Green Lake East courts the first ‘pickleball hub’ in Seattle,” remarked Frank Chiappone, President of Seattle Metro Pickleball Association (seattlemetropickleball.com). “Green Lake East has established itself as one of the cultural centers of the Seattle pickleball scene, drawing an incredibly diverse set of players to the location every day. Pickleball is all about community, fitness, and fun, and no place exemplifies that more than Green Lake. We thank Seattle Parks for their partnership in making the hub model a reality. We look forward to continuing our efforts with SPR to create many more hubs in other communities.”

AP Diaz, Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation, added his thoughts, “I am thrilled to help announce the opening of our city’s very first dedicated pickleball hub at Green Lake’s East Courts! This innovative hub model by Seattle Parks and Recreation is designed to cater to the specific needs of racquet and paddle sports enthusiasts. With this first-ever Seattle Pickleball Hub, we aim to enhance accessibility, improve facility scheduling, and foster a stronger community among pickleball players. Come join us and experience the benefits of this game-changing addition to our court system!”

Washington State Senator John Lovick noted, “As a fan of the Green Lake East pickleball scene, I am thrilled it has been named a pickleball hub. Hub status is a testament to the popularity of pickleball, a win for the expanding community of players and a tribute to the elevation of Washington’s state sport within the Seattle Metro area.”

Green Lake Pickleball representative Peter Seitel enthused, “The Green Lake Pickleball community is excited to help celebrate SPR’s designation of Green Lake East court as the city’s first Pickleball Hub. We look forward to working with SPR to continue to support year-round diverse, open, and inclusive pickleball play for players at all skill and competitive levels, while at the same time, sharing the space with our local amazing high school tennis players in the spring. Come join us at the Green Lake East Hub on August 24th for fun pickleball play and celebration!”

What is a Hub?

A court hub is a sport-specific facility with a minimum of eight courts, lighting, proximity to transit and parking, amenities to support the facility, a safe waiting area, circulation for bystanders, and accessibility for players of all levels and ability. Currently, hubs are existing courts with predominant demand for either pickleball or tennis. In the case of pickleball, hubs will provide high contrast lines, a higher court density and reconsideration of the reservation system. Seattle Parks and Recreation has identified two pickleball hubs and two tennis hubs and is working to identify more hub locations.

Removed from the Seattle Parks and Recreation tennis reservation system, the Green Lake East courts are available for pickleball only (except for Bishop Blanchet High School at Green Lake East). SPR is looking into a lighting system for Green Lake East.

Pickleball Hubs – A History

Initially a community-led effort in 2022, the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association united and organized groups across the Seattle Metro area in the planning and development of hubs. These groups consisted of community leaders organizing play at the informal, popular pickleball hubs of Green Lake East, Miller, Walt Hundley and Rainier Beach. At a local coffee shop, SMPA president Frank Chiappone met with these leaders, working to sharpen the articulation of their need and amplify their voice. Another meeting took place on the courts at Miller Park between local community leaders, Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association.

In early 2023, Seattle Metro Pickleball Association board members, with Green Lake’s Peter Seitel, formally presented the hub concept to SPR Superintendent AP Diaz and his staff. Work on the hub concept progressed and gained acceptance with Seattle Parks and Recreation, who incorporated a model for both pickleball and tennis.

In April 2024, Seattle Parks and Recreation designated the Green Lake East courts, the hottest spot for pickleball in Seattle, as a designated pickleball hub. Seattle has arrived at a breakthrough moment for pickleball thanks to the collective efforts of the pickleball community, Green Lake leaders, Parks and Recreation, the Seattle Parks Foundation and SMPA.

The Seattle Metro Pickleball Association and Seattle Parks and Recreation are already working on the next hub sites for the pickleball community. The Seattle Metro Pickleball Association has partnered with the Seattle Parks Foundation to establish a framework to support Green Lake and all other future hubs. This will include an innovative way to enlist public support to fund future projects for Green Lake and additional hub sites. SMPA’s partnership with the Seattle Parks Foundation has enabled open play all day at the hubs. None of this work has been easy, and SMPA will continue to keep working hard to make things happen.

Magnuson Park – A New Hub Site

SMPA’s next project is a large, dedicated hub at Magnuson Park at the Frog Pond parking lot. Seattle Parks and Recreation has advanced a capital project to build 8 to 10 dedicated pickleball courts at Magnuson Park, with an additional phase to possibly build up to 24 pickleball courts at this location. Possibly, we say, because environmental and master plan issues throw their usual curve balls.

A Special Thank You to the Local Community, Community Partners and the City of Seattle

SMPA’s priority is to promote collaboration between the community and metro area officials, and to work diligently and pragmatically to improve pickleball for all, not just for SMPA members. We have made progress and have more challenges ahead. And we want to thank the countless members of our community for aiding us in this endeavor, whether it be through providing donations for nets, forming tournaments and leagues, closing down the city streets for a pickleball festival, teaching underserved communities, volunteering your countless skills and labor, and fighting with us to achieve our collective vision. Thank you all!

More on hubs on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/seattlemetropickleball/posts/pfbid02KDuFWnUkcoBjtruhjyjTeot7MB4ThJqNTsdmC1QPTxscYZxcrHkSn3bDnpPB3yNrl