DATE: 08/06/2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Community Services Department
2025-320
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
COUNCILMEMBER RICHINS REQUEST TO DISCUSS PROPOSED PICKLEBALL
COURTS AT EL CERRITO PARK
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to provide direction on the construction of new outdoor pickleball courts at El Cerrito Park. This project was originally proposed as a Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Improvement Project; however, the project was put on pause per the request of the City Council during the FY 26 budget adoption.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council provide direction on the construction of new outdoor pickleball courts at El Cerrito Park.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
Demand is growing for pickleball. From 2023 – 2024, participation in the sport increased by 46% throughout the United States. Pickleball courts were identified as one of the top four outdoor features most desired by residents in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PRMP). The PRMP calls for 23 pickleball courts to meet level of service (LOS) guidelines (one (1) court per 7,300 residents). Currently, the City has 12 dedicated pickleball courts (10 at Border Park and two (2) at Husted Park), plus five (5) multi-use courts (three (3) at Circle City Center and two (2) at El Cerrito Park) that can be used for pickleball. This brings the total to 17 courts throughout the City. Thus, an additional six (6) courts are needed to fulfill the PRMP LOS guidelines.
Demand for tennis has also seen growth, with participation in sport increasing 8% from 2023-2024. Corona currently has 19 tennis courts located at seven (7) parks throughout the City, and three of these courts are located 1.8 miles from the proposed project site.
The number of existing tennis courts currently meets the PRMP LOS guidelines (one (1) court per 8,400 residents) with its 19 courts.
To address the need for additional pickleball courts, staff proposed a capital improvement project (CIP) in the FY 2026 budget to convert two tennis courts at El Cerrito Park into eight pickleball courts and construct four additional pickleball courts on a vacant parcel adjacent to the tennis courts, for a total of 12 new pickleball courts. The PRMP also suggests converting a pickleball court at Border Park back into a tennis court to offset the reduction in tennis courts.
ANALYSIS:
Per the request of the City Council, the FY 2026 CIP to construct new pickleball courts at El Cerrito Park was put on hold to provide time to evaluate the impact of several new private pay-to-play pickleball courts that are currently under construction at Eagle Glen Golf Club. Based on feedback received from the pickleball community regarding this issue, Councilmember Richins asked for this item to be brought back to the City Council for further discussion.
At tonight’s meeting, staff will present 5 options to the City Council for consideration regarding pickleball courts at El Cerrito Park.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The financial impact of constructing the proposed pickleball courts at El Cerrito Park is $1,097,802. If another option is selected, the financial impact will change, either to be less or slightly more. Sufficient funding is available in the Pickleball Facility Capital Improvement Project No. FC-2026-05 within Measure X Fund 120 to cover the project cost.
PREPARED BY: DONNA FINCH, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
REVIEWED BY: BRETT CHANNING, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
ATTACHMENTs:
1. Exhibit 1 - CIP Project Sheet
2. Exhibit 2 - Presentation