SF Pickleball Community’s Working Group
Who we are and how we advocate for the PB Community
Ever wonder how City Pickleball courts and facilities got created and who influences decisions on how sustaining operations are managed by SF Rec & Park (RPD)? This includes court sharing decisions, reservation systems, court rotation rules and even net maintenance and ball provisioning. Since pickleball started gaining serious popularity at Golden Gate Park and Palega Playground back in 2017, there has always been a group of player/volunteers who have consistently met with RPD management, bugged City supervisors, lobbied RPD Commissioners, and even called on Da Mayor – always advocating for more and better quality public access and facilities. The latest incarnation of this team is called the SF Pickleball Working Group and they continue to press RPD for improvements.
All members are volunteers and the team is always looking for additional help and participation. Pickleball has seen unprecedented growth, especially after the pandemic, and getting City bureaucracy to pay attention, especially with the upcoming budget austerity, requires creativity, focus and fortitude from the Pickleball player community. The Working Group has established a monthly meeting schedule with RPD to discuss issues and problem resolution.
Pickleball has had enormous positive impact on many lives and if you have passion, maybe want to “give back” or “pay it forward”, and any interest in supporting the team, please get in touch. Or just drop us a line to share your requests, issues or thoughts about advocacy.
The Working Group’s mission:
We are a committee dedicated to fostering a fair, inclusive, and sustainable approach to recreational court usage in San Francisco. As Pickleball continues to grow in popularity, it is essential to develop policies that balance the needs of all players while ensuring equitable access to public spaces. The committee’s mission is to collaborate with SF Rec and Park, community members, and stakeholders to create thoughtful solutions that expand court availability, improve shared-use strategies, and promote the many health and social benefits of pickleball.
We actively encourage community members to get involved by attending meetings, sharing their experiences, and advocating for more dedicated spaces. Through open dialogue and data-driven decision-making, the Working Group aims to enhance recreational opportunities and ensure that all San Franciscans have access to the benefits of this dynamic and inclusive sport.
| SF Pickleball Working Group | [General Mailbox] | SFPBWG@gmail.com |
| (advocacy committee) | Jason Guillory | |
| Julia Hugard | ||
| Lilly Murphy | ||
| Suzy Safdie | ||
| Mercury Schroeppel | ||
| Lisa Shaw |
