On Nov. 4, 2024, Deerhill Park hosted a grand opening of pickleball courts, which had previously been tennis courts.
The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District board issued $200,000 for the permanent revamping of the four original pickleball and tennis shared courts into six pickleball only courts. The notion of making the courts multi-use for pickleball and tennis surfaced briefly, but didn’t gain enough traction and was ultimately shut down.
As tennis courts, the park was noticeably less crowded, and there was almost always a court open to play tennis. Since the renovation, the courts have become a major social hub for meeting new people in the Oak Park community. There are numerous lessons, tournaments and opportunities to stay active and make new friends at the courts.
Nathan Burgess is a member of the Oak Park community who likes to play pickleball at Deerhill Park once every couple of months.
“I think the atmosphere has changed,” Burgess said. “This place is always packed, and it’s very social.”
Chloe St. Laurent, president of the Oak Park High School Pickleball Club, plays at the courts 4-5 times a week and also believes the investment was the right move.
“The pickleball courts are way more modern and lively,” St. Laurent said.
Though some see tennis as a thing of the past, those who still play strongly disagree. Senior Mathew Roman has been part of the OPHS tennis team for four years and lives near the courts.
“I grew up being able to walk to the courts and play with my friends at any moment,” Roman said. “This is not an option anymore.”
Even though Roman is able to drive to other tennis courts, he worries about the younger generation of tennis players who live in the neighborhood, and who do not have the convenience he had when he was younger.
One problem the neighborhood faces since the renovation is the noise it brings.
The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District has also weighed the disadvantages to adding the courts. According to Ning Rosenthal, a member of the Oak Park Parks and Recreation Committee, “The noise and traffic caused by pickleball is a nuisance for their neighborhood. The stress caused by the noise is detrimental to their health.”
Pickleball is generally known for its loud impact noise, which can spark the question: why choose a park surrounded by residences to accommodate a sport known for its loud noises?
The answer is the expenses of building brand new pickleball courts. Since Deerhill Park already had tennis courts, the renovation was cheaper than if they were to be built from the ground up. If that were the case, the courts would have cost $1 million.
Another issue is the traffic pickleball brings to the surrounding neighborhoods.
“[Pickleball has] led to a massive influx of people into this small residential area,” Roman said. “[This] often results in additional traffic and problems.”
The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District has acknowledged the problem and discussed the possibility of expanding pickleball courts elsewhere to meet the demand and reduce crowding at Deerhill.
Despite the concerns about noise and increased traffic, many community members believe that the pickleball courts had a positive impact on Deerhill Park.
“The courts are a great place to hang out with friends and make new friends,” junior Taylor Tingzon said. “I go four to five times a week and have improved a lot.”
St. Laurent also believes the courts are a great place for anyone no matter their pickleball skill to socialize with others in the community.
“A lot of people play every night, and we slowly get to know each other,” St. Laurent said.
While the Deerhill Park pickleball courts have brought a lively, social energy to the neighborhood, the changes have not come without consequences. For tennis players of all ages, the loss of shared space is still felt. For pickleball players, the newfound community is a breath of fresh air in Oak Park.
