A solution has finally been announced to Asheville’s tennis vs. pickleball court dilemma. The 11 outdoor tennis courts maintained by the city will become dual-lined, with Asheville Parks & Recreation instituting a shared use schedule for each sport.
The background
Both tennis and pickleball have increased in local popularity, matching national trends of a 39.3% pickleball player surge and a 27.9% tennis player surge since before the pandemic. The problem? Asheville only has so many tennis courts.
Pickleball players are frustrated with the lack of designated pickleball courts, having to bring their own nets and make do with courts lined for tennis. Converting some of the tennis courts to pickleball courts, however, is highly displeasing to Asheville’s tennis community — especially since they’ve already lost tennis courts over the years to other park facilities. Meanwhile, residents who live close to the parks are frustrated with noise, crowds, traffic, and parking.
The solution
What exactly does dual-lined mean? Expect to continue to see white-lined tennis court dimensions on outdoor courts, with the addition of blue-lined dimensions for pickleball. Note: Pickleball is played on a smaller court than tennis, meaning there will be one tennis court + two pickleball courts within each multipurpose court.
Pickleball players will still have to bring their own nets, though there may be future plans for a net check-out system.
As for that alternating shared-use schedule, it hasn’t been released yet, though apparently a draft scheduled was shared at an Asheville Parks & Recreation meeting this week.
Modifications to the courts are expected to begin in early 2023, and may take 4-6 weeks.
Get playing
Here’s every public court where you can play your sport after dual lines are put into effect:
Multi-purpose
- Kenilworth Park, 79 Wyoming Rd. | Open 6 a.m.-10 p.m. | Two tennis, four pickleball courts | Free
- Malvern Hills Park, 75 Rumbough Pl. | Open 8 a.m.-9 p.m. | Two tennis, four pickleball courts | Free
- Montford Park, 345 Montford Ave. | Open 5 a.m.-10 p.m. | Two tennis, four pickleball courts | Free
- Murphy-Oakley Park, 715 Fairview Rd. | Open 6 a.m.-3 p.m. | Three tennis, six pickelball courts | Free
- Weaver Park, 430 Merrimon Ave. |Open 6 a.m.-10 p.m. | Two tennis, four pickleball courts | Free
Tennis
- Aston Park Tennis Center, 336 Hilliard Ave. | Open 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri.-Sun. | 12 tennis courts | $149.50+ for a season pass
Pickleball
- Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd. | Open various hours | 3 indoor pickleball courts | $20 for 25 visits
- Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave. | Open various hours | 3 indoor pickleball courts |$20 for 25 visits
Tell us — are you team pickleball or team tennis? If neither, what’s your favorite local sport to play?
