Pickleball Court Management: What Every City Rec Department Should Know

Pickleball continues to hold the title as the fastest-growing sport in the US, and city recreation departments across the country are working to keep up. Efficient pickleball court management and usage policies have become more important than ever. Here’s what your department should consider as demand for pickleball continues to rise. 

Location and Coordination

Many cities maintain pickleball courts across multiple locations, including both indoor and outdoor spaces like public parks, rec centers, and high schools. These courts can serve multiple purposes, including being used as both pickleball and tennis courts. This helps keep your potential audience high. Due to this flexibility, a single booking would affect someone booking the same court for the other sport. For example, booking pickleball court #1 might mean blocking off tennis court #1 at the same facility. Without connected scheduling, it’s easy to create conflicts. That’s why cities are moving towards centralized court scheduling systems like eSoft Planner that track shared use and avoid double-booking. 

Resident vs Non-Resident: Access and Pricing

Many municipalities offer priority scheduling and discounted rates for residents. A common approach is to allow residents to book courts further in advance (such as seven days ahead), while non-residents may only book three days out and pay a higher fee. Enforcing these rules manually can be time-consuming, but a software solution can automate access windows, pricing differences, and more. 

Open Play Options Increase Revenue

For players who don’t want to book out an entire court, open play offers an easy, flexible solution. These sessions typically involve a small fee that allows participants to join a rotating game during a set time. Rec departments can easily manage open play by utilizing software to handle registration, payments, and automatic reminders. This approach saves staff time while maximizing court use and revenue. 

Setting Time Durations 

Pickleball court reservations typically follow one of three durations: 60, 90, or 120 minutes. Each can have its pros and cons. 

• 60 minutes: Encourages high turnover and availability
• 90 minutes: A good option for social or recreational play
• 120 minutes: Ideal for league or tournament play, but can reduce overall availability

Flexible scheduling options, including higher prices for specific durations during peak hours, can help strike a good balance between availability and satisfaction for your clients. 

Automation For Court Management

Many rec departments are using automated notifications to keep their communication frequent and efficient. These can include: 

• Reservation confirmations
• Upcoming court reminders
• Cancellations due to weather or maintenance

Additionally, some cities have begun using access control features, like a keypad entry, to ensure only players with bookings can access your courts. This is perfect for cities who want to rent out their courts without requiring constant supervision.

Efficiency and Revenue 

Pickleball is one of many programs city rec departments must manage, often across multiple locations and departments. The real challenge is the logistics of successfully managing each. Most cities need a court management system to improve efficiency. Instead of fielding dozens of calls or coordinating across various internal calendars, staff can rely on a single system to automate scheduling, reminders, and more. Revenue generation can be a bonus for these staff members to bring in funds with minimal effort. 

Final Thoughts On Your Pickleball Court Management

Pickleball’s popularity shows no signs of slowing down, and cities that invest in efficient pickleball court management will be better equipped to meet community needs. Whether you’re coordinating shared-use courts or offering open play, the right tools and policies can help your department grow participation and minimize hassle. Looking for more insights on how to successfully manage your courts? Book a free consultation with one of our experts!