To Neighbors of Lewellyn Park,
The City of Troutdale wants your opinion on a new recreational opportunity. The Parks Advisory Committee (PAC) is considering the installation of pickleball courts on one of the existing tennis courts at Lewellyn Park. This would be a temporary installation, with the potential to be made permanent after an approximately one-year trial.
An outdoor town hall meeting on July 22, 2021 at Lewellyn Park gathered public input from nearly 70 people. We learned that there is strong interest in the sport here in Troutdale and that there are few other municipally-owned pickleball courts open to the public in this part of the metro area.
Our key takeaways based on reaction from the attendees were the following:
- Troutdale should provide pickleball courts,
- The City should convert existing tennis courts to pickleball courts,
- The City should act sooner rather than later, and not wait for the master plan to be finished,
- The City should not invest in a large pickleball complex.
That information is available in this Powerpoint presentation that includes all of the displays from the meeting.
► What is pickleball?
Pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines tennis, badminton, and ping pong, and was invented right here in the Pacific Northwest. Two or four players use solid paddles to hit a plastic ball — similar to a wiffle ball — over a net. You can learn more by visiting USApickleball.org.
► What will happen to the existing tennis courts?
One of the two courts will remain in place for tennis. The other tennis court will be converted into two pickleball courts, with a new fence to separate pickleball from tennis.
► What happens next?
The pickleball courts will remain in place for a minimum of one year. Signs will be posted around the courts with information about the project and will provide a URL for community members to answer additional survey questions. Community feedback will be the main criteria for making pickleball a permanent feature of Lewellyn Park.
► What is the potential downside?
Since this change would increase court capacity, it could theoretically increase both traffic and noise levels. Whereas two tennis courts could have 8 active players, this hybrid court could have 12 active players (not to mention additional players waiting for an open court). The City Engineer has estimated that no more that 10 cars per hour — at most an increase of 5 percent — will be destined for the new pickleball courts, and only during the warm months and at peak play hours.
The survey period ended at 12:00 p.m. on June 15, 2021 and the results will be discussed during the Parks Advisory Committee meeting on June 16. A final decision on the project could take place that evening and members of the public are encouraged to attend. You may see the survey questions by viewing the attached document below.