Dear Mayor Lightfoot, Alderman King, Prentice Butler, Alderman Dowell, Rosa Escareno Juliet Azim, Steve Lux, Patrick Levar, Jackie Guthrie, Brendan Riley, Adrian Loza, Jim Wales and Leslie Recht  

The Chicago pickleball community requests that you prioritize the funding and building of dedicated pickleball courts in Grant Park as part of the Grant Park Revision Plan so that courts could be open in the spring of 2022.

Currently, the entire city of Chicago has only four dedicated courts; they are at Gwendolyn Brooks Park (4245 S. Greenwood Ave.).

Chicago is significantly behind the rest of Illinois.  Courts are proliferating in most suburbs and nearby towns, including Peoria, and Griffith, Indiana, etc.

The overwhelming success of temporary courts at Maggie Daley Park demonstrates that when pickleball courts are available, more and more people will play – many of then taking up the sport for the first time.

Dedicated pickleball courts will significantly increase the public’s awareness of and access to this dynamic sport. The temporary courts at MDP are available only during weekdays from 10 AM to 12 PM.  Outside of those hours, the CPD nets are locked away, so pickleball players must bring their own nets – but can play only when tennis players are not using the courts. 

Pickleball courts are an excellent use of community resources and should be prioritized, as the sport can be played by everyone – men, women, boys and girls, including those with disabilities.  We have active players ranging in age from 8 through 80 plus.

Pickleball courts are an efficient use of park space that require little maintenance.  Sixteen people can play on four pickleball courts in the same amount of space required for one tennis court, which is typically used by only two people.

Dedicated courts are not only a highly desirable amenity for Chicago residents, but also sought after by visitors to Chicago, as evidenced by frequent requests for local games on our Facebook page.  Our temporary pickleball courts are filled spring, summer and fall by full-time residents, part-time residents and visitors.  

Thank you for considering our request, which represents a great opportunity for Grant Park and the City of Chicago.

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION IF YOU SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT PICKLEBALL TO CONTINUE TO FLOURISH IN CHICAGO.