Outdoor Pickleball Court Development

Spring 2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Thursday, November 21, for the second public meeting on the Magnuson Pickleball Court Development. If you could not attend the meeting or have additional questions, please read the meeting summary Q&A or view the recorded presentation below.

The project site is at the parking lot located north of NE 65th Street, currently leased to the Children’s Hospital for the park-and-pool lot. This lease agreement will not extend beyond 2025. The budget for this project allows for the construction of 8-10 courts with lighting by the end of 2026. The park Master Plan will have to be amended to allow for up to 25 lighted courts. A Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) is underway to assess the impacts of the Alternatives proposed for this site.

Citywide Outdoor Pickleball Planning 2021-2023 

This project began in 2021 when SPR assessed numerous potential sites for the inclusion of dedicated pickleball facilities: North Seattle: Magnuson E5 Parking Lot, Bitter Lake Reservoir, Interbay, Woodland Park Lower, Woodland Park “Horseshoe,” Woodland Triangle, Magnuson Tennis courts; South Seattle: Hiawatha Playfield, Genessee Playfield, Georgetown Playfield, Jefferson Park oval, Pratt Park, Judkins Lower Field, and Lincoln Park. These sites were chosen due to the availability of land and to select a preferred location in both north and south Seattle from several options.

Under the guidance of SPR’s Planning & Capital Development staff, a Pickleball Demand Steering Committee was formed from members of the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association (SMPA), the Amy Yee Tennis Center Advisory Council (AYAC), SPR Lifelong Recreation staff, and other individual volunteers. This group published their findings and recommendations for each of the 7 sites as the 2021-2022 Outdoor Pickleball Study. This study also identified the preferred candidates—Magnuson Park and Georgetown Playfield, for dedicated facilities in north and south Seattle, respectively. This study was presented at a virtual public meeting in May 2022. Results from this meeting and the 2021-2022 Outdoor Pickleball Study were presented to the Seattle Parks and Recreation Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners (BPRC) on August 11, 2022. At this meeting, SPR staff received recommendations from the BPRC to proceed with exploring concept development at Magnuson Park and Georgetown Playfield. Funding to support the design and construction of dedicated pickleball courts at Magnuson and preferred schematic design at Georgetown Playfield was identified as part of the Cycle 2 (2023-2028) Park District Financial Plan and is available in Fiscal Year 2024.

2023 Outdoor Pickleball Court Planning

This project began in the fall of 2023 to conduct a detailed analysis of the five courts identified in the 2021-2022 study. An advisory committee was formed, including tennis and pickleball players and advocates. This committee would review the consultant team’s recommendations along with the SPR staff for selecting one site in North Seattle and another site in South Seattle. The project scope called for holding two public meetings, one north and one south. These meetings would introduce the public to the project and collect their comments and concerns for consideration.

In October 2023, after a more detailed review of the sites, along with input from the advisory committee, SPR determined to continue work on the two best options: a facility at Warren G. Magnuson Park and a facility at Georgetown Playfield. It was also determined that public engagement would be held after conceptual designs were completed for Magnuson Park.

Magnuson Park Conceptual Designs & Next Steps

Funding for this project comes from the 2023-2028 Seattle Park District Financial Plan. $2.1 million is allocated for the planning, design and construction of a dedicated pickleball court facility by 2026. This total also covers SPR staff time, soft costs such as sales tax, permitting fees, consultant design fees, etc. Approximately $300,000 will be used to develop a schematic design for a dedicated pickleball facility at Georgetown Playfield.

Concept design alternatives for the pickleball court facility represent a full buildout for environmental analysis and provide pickleball advocates with information for seeking future funding through grants or donations. Construction phasing for the full buildout concept has not yet been determined. After a preferred conceptual design is selected, construction phasing may be determined relative to constructability. As with the sports fields in the existing Master Plan, it is unknown at this time if or when funding would be obtained for more detailed design and construction.

Background: Magnuson Park Planning for Recreational Uses

In the late 1990s, SPR began planning for a sports field and a constructed wetlands complex in areas generally east of Sportsfield Drive to Lake Shore Drive. The site of the proposed pickleball facility was initially developed by the Navy for a hangar with aircraft parking. After the naval airfield was closed and the tarmac and runways were demolished, this area was redeveloped for a Post Exchange (PX), basically a department store for military families. After the city obtained the site, planning was completed to convert it to recreational use. This was guided by the Sand Point Physical Development Management Plan (PDMP 1997); and City Council Resolutions 30063 (November 1999) and 30293 (April 2001), which guided a concept design for sports fields and courts, wetland/habitat components and drainage. Between 2000 and 2006, planning work was completed to design a wetland/habitat complex and a sports fields/courts project. This included the preparation of an environmental impact statement and a council-approved master plan for Magnuson Park.

In 2001 through 2002, SPR public meetings included a wetland design forum, workshops and athletic field lighting education forums and displays. In January 2002, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was distributed, which analyzed the potential impacts of several alternatives, including sports fields and courts, a wetland/habitat complex and integrated site drainage facilities. A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was issued on July 12, 2002.  

A citizens' group appealed the adequacy of the FEIS, and the Office of the Hearing Examiner conducted an appeal hearing with a decision issued in late February 2003. SPR was required to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) on the sole issue of the impacts of sports field noise on wildlife. A Final SEIS was published in May 2003. An Addendum to the FEIS was published in December 2003, which modified selected design and operational characteristics for the sports field component of the project with the intent of reducing potential impacts associated with sports field lighting and noise. 

Magnuson Park Master Plan

In 2004, the City Council stipulated that no more than $100,000 of the appropriated capital improvement program could be used to fund either the Athletic Field Renovation Project or the Wetlands Development Project until authorized by a future ordinance. The City Council held a public hearing on the Master Plan in April 2004 and approved full funding to construct wetlands and upland habitat, demolish a hangar (Building 193) and adjacent parking lots (Ordinance 121502 - 2004).

The Master Plan approved by Ordinance 121502 was amended in 2006 to reflect design revisions based on funding; expressed support for construction of phase 2 wetlands, natural areas and athletic fields; and reaffirmed conditions in Ordinance 121502 for the use of external funding for wetlands, natural areas and athletic fields (Ordinance 122318 - 2006).

Magnuson Park Master Plan (Ordinance 122318 – 2006)

Conceptual Designs

The EIS for the wetlands/habitat complex and sports courts/fields project analyzed a full buildout alternative which was incorporated into the Magnuson Park Master Plan. Various phases were included in the Master Plan based on future demand for sports fields and available funding (city, grants, others). Of the five athletic fields in the Master Plan, three were constructed; and of four ballfields two were constructed.

The following features were included in the Master Plan but not funded or constructed:

• Three parking lots to replace parking displaced by a large ballfield (proposed pickleball courts site);
• Five sports courts adjacent to Sportsfield Drive and housing areas to the west;
• Two restrooms and/or concession building at the south end of the sports fields; and a pavilion near the wetlands/natural areas for environmental education. 

Concept 3

Concept 4

Concept 5

Concept 6