SPR Sets Date for Construction of 8 – 10 Dedicated Pickleball Courts at Magnuson Park

PUBLIC INVITED TO MEET DESIGN TEAM

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) has announced 8 to 10 dedicated and lighted pickleball courts are being built at Magnuson Park by the end of 2026 at the park and pool lot located to the north of NE 65th Street. This lot is referred to locally as the Frog Pond parking lot.

The public is invited to review design concepts for the planning project on Thursday, September 5th from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Magnuson Community Center located at 7110 62nd Avenue NE in Seattle.

SPR senior planner Jonathan Garner stated the event is set up as an open house-style meeting with no formal presentation. The public is welcome to meet the design team and view design concepts any time between 6 and 7:30 pm.

Eight to 10 dedicated pickleball courts with lighting will be constructed by the end of 2026 with the current budget. Per Garner, the budget allocated is $2.9 million through 2026/27 for the Magnuson Park design and construction.

Per SPR, a park master plan will need to be amended to allow 16 – 18 dedicated courts with an ultimate build-out of approximately 24 lighted courts. One of SPR’s six conceptual designs includes a 25-court layout. In addition to a park master plan amendment, additional hurdles may include environmental and parking studies.

No SPR funding is allocated for additional courts at Magnuson Park beyond the 8 to 10 being constructed. If a park master plan amendment passes and other conditions are met, grants, public and private donations will be needed to achieve SMPA’s ultimate build-out goal of 24 or more dedicated pickleball courts.

The Seattle Metro Pickleball Association has partnered with the Seattle Parks Foundation to arrange for public donations to this project. Achieving a build-out exceeding 10 courts at Magnuson Park will require public and private funding assistance. SMPA’s partnership with the Seattle Parks Foundation will also include a fund to support projects at Seattle’s first pickleball hub, Green Lake, as well as future pickleball hubs. More details on how to donate are coming soon.

Seattle Parks and Recreation asked the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association for assistance informing pickleball players about the project and SPR’s open house on September 5. A postcard mailer was sent by SPR to Seattle residents in proximity to Magnuson Park regarding the planning project and is shown in the photo gallery.

SPR has released six conceptual designs by DA Hogan ahead of the planning project open house. All six conceptual design options are shown in the photo gallery. The six design options include 10 courts, 13 courts, two 18-court options, 23 courts and a 25 pickleball1-court option. The 25 pickleball-court option includes 24 standard, 34-foot wide courts, 9 covered courts, 12 courts with 30-spectator bleacher capacity, one accessible stadium court with four spectator bleachers, a 24′ x 32′ covered central pavilion, 2 three-unit unisex restrooms, 8 picnic tables and 108 parking spaces.

Planning for the current project originated from SPR’s 2021-22 Outdoor Pickleball Study. For the project, SPR formed a 13-person Pickleball Advisory Committee consisting of SMPA directors, representation from pickleball and tennis players, SPR staff, and consultants including DA Hogan and Broadview Planning. For the project, Broadview Planning conducted an Outdoor Pickleball Feasibility Assessment at SPR’s request.