To accommodate the growth in pickleball, the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District is going to add several indoor pickleball courts, but players say the design is too tight and could lead to injuries.
Pickleball is gaining in popularity nationally, as well as in the H-F area. Players from neighboring south suburban communities and from Indiana are regularly playing pickleball at the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club in Homewood.
As many as 50 players show up to play on Monday nights for open play. Most have to wait in line because there are too few courts for the number of players.
The park district also has open play from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays. Advanced pickleball court time is 2 to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays.
Court rentals for guaranteed playing time is similar to how tennis courts are reserved. The park district also has converted several outdoor courts for pickleball. RFC also has a pickleball instruction program.
The park board approved a $70,000 contract with Sports Surface Pros LLC at its July meeting that calls for tennis court repair and resurfacing at the cub. When the work is done, several tennis courts will be reconfigured to include striping for pickleball courts.
Pickleball enthusiasts say they had no forewarning of the changes, and they would like to have input. They asked for the park board to share information on the plans and set up a meeting where they can ask questions and offer suggestions. Michelle Ardis, director of the club, said a meeting will be scheduled soon.
The racquet club has 10 tennis courts; four are striped for pickleball. One tennis court accommodates two pickleball courts. The plan is to double that by putting four pickleball courts in the space of one tennis court.
Ardis said the size of the pickleball courts will be the regulation 20 feet by 44 feet size or 880 square feet, with space guaranteed between each court.
Players raised concerns with park commissioners on Tuesday, Aug. 6, that the proposal leaves little leeway around the courts and no dividers to keep errant balls from bouncing into a court in play. They say the plan doesn’t give enough space to prevent a player on another court from stepping into a neighboring court.
A petition with 58 signatures asking the park district to rethink the plan was presented at the board meeting. The players say they only learned of the plan when a poster went up saying the courts would be closed for two weeks starting Sept. 3 for the construction.
Adrienne River, who has been a pickleball enthusiast playing at the club the past several years, raised concerns about the changes. She told park commissioners the changes will make play “less enjoyable,” and giving less space between courts will make it difficult to maneuver. River said a facility in Indiana tried the proposed reconfiguration and abandoned it because players found it was too crowded.
“Why are there eight designated courts for tennis and none for pickleball. Can’t we have dedicated courts?” she asked. “We want to grow this club. We are not anti-tennis. We are pro sport.”
Park Board President Brent Bachus said he always believed the park district was doing a great thing by having pickleball.
“We recognize how important you all are to the growth and health of that club” and he promised the board would work to better align player expectations to the plans, he said.
“Pickleball is the future!” Jane Sablich told the Chronicle. “We need to recognize that.”