Uneven sloping issues and cracks that run across pickleball courts at Fairchild Park will be fixed after a $250,000 renovation. Construction will continue through the spring.
The City of San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation Department plans to demolish courts 7 through 18 at the East Side park and build new ones, addressing foundation and leveling issues.
But the planned renovations mean most pickleball courts at the park will be closed until at least February.
Six pickleball courts will remain open, but players should prepare for longer wait times to play on the courts.
On any given night, more than 100 people use the pickleball courts. Some arrive alone and meet friends there, while others arrive in groups with their paddles.
The city is funding the renovations using funds from its annual budget. Department spokeswoman Connie Swann said the upgrades were long overdue and much needed. Because there was no long-term fix for the uneven leveling issues causing slopes on the courts, or the cracks, the department decided to close the courts for a number of months for substantial renovations.
The pickleball sport has become popular in San Antonio, much like the rest of the country, and has attracted people of all ages and different backgrounds.
Signs on Monday night communicated a notice: “Pickleball courts 7 to 18 will be closed for reconstruction starting Monday, November 11.”
But Monday was a city holiday, and there was no construction tape and the gates remained wide open, giving players an invitation to enjoy their last plays on those courts until the spring. The courts were closed for construction on Tuesday.
After the renovations, the city is planning to continue investing in adding pickleball courts to parks across the city — costing $1.5 million.
The 2022-2027 Pickleball Recreational Improvements Bond Project will fund projects at Tejeda Park, New Territories Park and Pickwell Park.
Two courts with shade structures funded by the city’s District 9 office are also under construction at Walker Ranch Senior Center. Three more open air pickleball courts funded by last year’s bond will open at Heritage Neighborhood Park in later this month.
Regular pickleball player Michael Alhaj has played at Fairchild Park for about a year and a half now. He’s an advanced player and lives about 15 minutes away from the park, but heads there after his workout at Life Time Fitness at least three times a week.
“I think this is the biggest park here with the most available courts to play on,” Alhaj said.
He said the lighting on the court is attractive. Additional lighting was installed in 2023. The cracks on the court and uneven leveling throw players off, but he doesn’t let it affect him or his group of friends; They play on, he said.
He said the planned closure of the majority of pickleball courts at Fairchild Park won’t be fun, and anticipated there will be longer wait times for people to get play time.
As he speaks, sounds of balls hitting paddles goes on nonstop. It wasn’t hot outside and the sun had already set, but players broke a sweat and served underhand pitches with smiles on their face, except for sudden facial expressions when players almost stepped into the “kitchen,” that forbidden square in the middle of the court.
President of the San Antonio Pickleball Association and East Side resident Cindy Waddell is encouraging players to explore other pickleball courts to avoid lines of players waiting for a spot.
The nearest city park that has the most free pickleball courts open to the public is Monterrey Park, about 18 minutes away from Fairchild.
“For pickleball players, that’s nothing,” Waddell said. “Nothing!”
The closures have caused an end to newbie sessions the pickleball association hosts at the park, but other pickleball courts across the city offer beginner sessions for anyone wanting to learn how to play.
“Some people only play outdoors, some people only play indoors, but it’s fortunate that we have those choices,” she said. “There’s places just getting started with pickleball outside of San Antonio that really don’t have that many options … Parks and Rec really did a nice job catching up with the growth of pickleball in San Antonio.”
Where else to play Pickleball in San Antonio
Those who like to play outdoors can head to other city parks to play, including Garza Park on the far West Side which has two pickleball courts and is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day; Monterrey Park, which has eight pickleball courts on the inner West Side; Normoyle Park, which has four; Oak Haven Park which has one; or to the two courts at Pittman-Sullivan Park. One free pickleball court is also open to the public at Pizza Italia Park downtown.
The Lou Hamilton Community Center at Lady Bird Park offers three indoor pickleball courts available to the public on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon.
Players can also pay to play.
The East Side has a new indoor facility for pickleball players, The King of Padel at 314 Nolan Street, which offers eight indoor pickleball courts.
Epoch Pickleball at 21750 Hardy Oak Blvd. offers three indoor pickleball courts.
Chicken N Pickle at 5215 UTSA Boulevard offers six indoor and four outdoor pickleball courts at different rates based on the day. On Tuesdays, first responders play for free.
And some local gyms have also caught on with the pickleball trend, including Life Time Fitness at The Rim and Gold’s Gym San Antonio Rogers Ranch, which now offer courts for its members.
Correction: The story has been updated to reflect that Parks added additional lighting to pickleball courts in 2023. No additional lighting is planned in the upgrades.
