The pickleball community in Seattle is understandably upset about losing access to dual-use courts at some city parks.  They are circulating a petition and proposal which, among other remedies, would reallocate the Amy Yee Tennis Center and Lower Woodland Tennis Courts to dual-use.  While much of the Seattle tennis community is amenable to dual use in some form, this would be an unacceptable seizure.

Petition Opposing the Introduction of Pickleball at Amy Yee Tennis Center and Lower Woodland Tennis Courts

To: Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Seattle City Council, and relevant city decision-makers  

We, the undersigned residents, tennis players, neighbors, and community members, respectfully oppose any proposal to convert or dedicate courts at Amy Yee Tennis Center and Lower Woodland Tennis Courts for pickleball use.   These facilities were developed and maintained primarily to serve Seattle’s tennis community and remain among the city’s most heavily used public tennis venues. Converting courts or expanding pickleball operations at these locations would negatively affect access, play quality, neighborhood livability, and the long-term sustainability of public tennis in Seattle.  

We urge the City to preserve these facilities as dedicated tennis venues for the following reasons:  

Preservation of Limited Tennis Infrastructure

Seattle already faces high demand and limited availability for public tennis courts, especially covered and tournament-quality courts. Amy Yee Tennis Center serves youth programs, school teams, seniors, leagues, lessons, and year-round recreational players. Lower Woodland is also a heavily utilized public tennis facility. Reducing tennis capacity at either site would worsen existing shortages and increase wait times for court access.

Noise and Neighborhood Impact

Pickleball generates significantly more repetitive and higher-frequency noise than tennis. Residents near parks across the country have raised concerns regarding the constant “popping” sound associated with pickleball play. Introducing or expanding pickleball at these locations risks creating ongoing noise conflicts for surrounding neighborhoods and park users.

Protection of Existing Community Programs

Amy Yee supports long-established instructional programs, junior development, adaptive tennis, USTA leagues, and community events. Court conversions could disrupt programming that serves thousands of Seattle residents annually and undermine investments made specifically for tennis infrastructure.

Appropriate Facility Planning

The growing popularity of pickleball should be addressed through thoughtful planning and development of dedicated pickleball facilities in locations designed to accommodate the sport’s unique space, noise, and operational requirements. Existing high-demand tennis centers should not bear the burden of conversion at the expense of current users.

Equity and Public Access

Public tennis facilities are already scarce in many parts of Seattle. Preserving these courts ensures continued affordable access to a lifelong sport that serves people of all ages, backgrounds, and ability levels.

We respectfully request that the City:

Reject any proposal to convert tennis courts at Amy Yee Tennis Center or Lower Woodland Tennis Courts to pickleball use;

Preserve these facilities primarily and permanently for tennis;

Engage in transparent public outreach before making any changes to court allocations;

Explore alternative sites for dedicated pickleball expansion that minimize impacts on existing tennis infrastructure and nearby residents.

We support balanced recreational planning that accommodates multiple sports while protecting vital public tennis resources for current and future generations.