Second Push for Pickleball Courts at Rancho Bernardo Community Park

The Ed Brown Center is making another bid to bring pickleball courts to Rancho Bernardo Community Park, proposing a plan to construct 16 courts on a site previously used for lawn bowling. Despite initial opposition and a plan for a multi-recreational grass field, the center's board is determined to try again, fueled by community support and a petition boasting over 1,500 signatures. With funding fully pledged and an estimated 90-day construction timeline for phase one, advocates hope this time their vision for a pickleball haven will be realized.

The pickleball court proposal offers several benefits to the community, including free access for residents and the opportunity to host tournaments and fundraisers. Meanwhile, concerns remain about the city's delay in transforming the site into a grass field as initially planned. The Ed Brown Center continues to argue that with growing interest in pickleball, the courts could be a great fit for the space.

At the core of this debate is a balance between addressing the recreational needs of Rancho Bernardo's diverse population and fulfilling the promises of open, multi-use green spaces. The center's leaders, though, believe the courts will bring more to the table than just a place to play—they see them as a potential lifeline for the center and a unifying force for the community.