Ashland Parks Commission Hears Compromise on Tennis and Pickleball Needs

Residents voice agreement on expanding pickleball courts while preserving tennis facilities

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:34am

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An overflow crowd of tennis and pickleball players attended a recent Ashland Parks Commission study session, where they voiced more agreement than disagreement on the growing demand for pickleball courts. While pickleball players outnumbered tennis players in public comments, both sides supported keeping pickleball courts at Lithia Park and tennis courts at Hunter Park, rather than dual-striping courts for shared use. The commission discussed options for repaving and restriping the Hunter Park tennis courts, funded by a state grant, but deferred a final decision to next week's business meeting.

Why it matters

The growing popularity of pickleball, especially among younger players, has created a need for more dedicated courts in Ashland. However, the city must balance the interests of both tennis and pickleball players to ensure equitable access to recreational facilities. This study session highlighted the community's desire for a compromise solution that meets the needs of both sports.

The details

At the study session, pickleball players outnumbered tennis players 17 to 6 in public comments, but both sides agreed on keeping the sports separated at Lithia Park and Hunter Park. The Parks and Recreation Department was criticized for not responding quickly enough to the rising demand for pickleball. Speakers noted that pickleball is growing rapidly nationwide, with Medford adding 24 new courts, and a town of 4,000 people building 40 courts. Potential new pickleball locations in Ashland were identified, including the former Lincoln School, Bellview if it closes, and Southern Oregon University.

  • The study session took place on April 2, 2026.
  • The Parks Commission will make a final decision on the Hunter Park tennis court renovations at next week's business meeting.

The players

Cory Frank

A speaker who read comments from third and fifth graders who love pickleball.

Joel Heller

A speaker who told the commissioners about a town of 4,000 people that is building 40 pickleball courts.

Jim Bachman

The chair of the Ashland Parks Commission.

Justin Adams

An Ashland Parks Commissioner who urged the parks department to cooperate with the school district and university on building more pickleball courts.

Dan Weiner

An Ashland Parks Commissioner who proposed restriping several Hunter Park tennis courts for both tennis and pickleball, and returning tennis to the Lithia Park courts currently used for pickleball.

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What they’re saying

“The sound survey from March 29 at 4:30 lays out a real-time snapshot that shows that cars, children and picnic attendees account for most of the louder sounds in Lithia park and are louder than the sounds of six courts in use.”

— Noah Brun, Middle School Eighth Grader

“Pickleball is faint to moderate in the direct vicinity of the court. The maximum recorded was on Winburn Way in the direct vicinity. When the ball hit the paddle, the sound was approximately 52 decibels, which is less than the sound of a car passing by.”

— Noah Brun, Middle School Eighth Grader

What’s next

The Ashland Parks Commission will make a final decision on the repaving and restriping of the Hunter Park tennis courts at next week's business meeting.

The takeaway

The Ashland community has found a compromise solution that addresses the growing demand for pickleball courts while preserving dedicated tennis facilities. This collaborative approach demonstrates how cities can balance the needs of different recreational user groups through open dialogue and creative facility planning.