Stay Informed
Community Engagement
Portland Parks & Recreation's Community Engagement team held both an in-person meeting and a virtual meeting where we shared information about the project and heard community input, especially about changes to Westmoreland Park. Community Engagement also made one in person visit to a private pickleball court to inform the community of possible changes.
To assess the opinions of interested and engaged community members, an online survey focused on options to add pickleball at Westmoreland Park’s existing tennis courts was conducted. We extended the duration of the usual survey an additional three weeks from Jan. 25 to Apr. 6. The survey was available on the project webpage and shared with stakeholders through a variety of means such as in person meetings, social media posts and signs posted at the park.
More than six hundred community members provided input, including people who play pickleball (500+), also people who never play pickleball (100+). Over half of the respondents reported playing one or more other court sports besides pickleball.
Overall, the majority of respondents expressed support for the project. Improvements considered most important to respondents overall were the court surface and permanent pickleball nets.
View full size image of Chart is titled "Importance of Various Potential Improvements, All respondents." This bar chart shows the number of responses for each improvement by importance, from not at all important to very important. Improvements are listed in order based on relative importance. Court surface and permanent nets is followed by fencing, barriers between courts, vegetation to screen Highway 99, and seating. The most preferred layout was dedicated pickleball courts, however there was also moderate interest in shared options. Shared courts had the most “no interest” responses.
Project Overview
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is improving tennis courts at Clinton Park and Westmoreland Park as part of our commitment to creating spaces that serve diverse recreational needs. Guided by the Outdoor Tennis Courts and Emerging Recreation Strategy, the project balances the demand for traditional tennis programming with the growing popularity of new court sports, like pickleball.
Two sites have been selected for improvement:
- Clinton Park: These courts will be upgraded to better support ongoing tennis programming, including summer camps, lessons, and the Franklin High School tennis team
- Westmoreland Park: The existing tennis courts, which aren’t used for tennis programming, will be improved to accommodate pickleball to address high demand for new locations to play pickleball.
Project Background
Building on the Outdoor Tennis Courts and Emerging Recreation Strategy, this project supports tennis programming while addressing the increasing demand for diverse recreational sports like futsal, pickleball, and bike polo.
In a 2021 community survey of tennis court users, there was strong support for converting some tennis courts to support other uses, with pickleball being the most requested alternative.
The existing tennis courts at Westmoreland Park are not ideal for tennis programming and were previously identified for potential reuse. Additionally, the courts are over 300 feet from nearby homes and close to McLoughlin Blvd, which helps offset potential noise concerns from pickleball play. These factors make Westmoreland Park a good location for introducing pickleball courts. We will gather and share community feedback before finalizing plans to add pickleball at Westmoreland Park.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why another pickleball court in this neighborhood?
Southeast Portland has the highest number of tennis courts in the city, making it a practical area to convert some courts for other uses. The popularity of pickleball has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, leading PP&R to add pickleball opportunities at several parks. With its favorable location and court conditions, Westmoreland Park is well-suited for additional pickleball courts.
What about the other tennis courts in the city?
PP&R is prioritizing maintenance and improvements based on available funding and strategic goals outlined in the Outdoor Tennis Court and Emerging Recreation Strategy.
Is this project funded?
In light of recent budget changes, it is not yet known when these improvements will be implemented.
Will there be parking?
Yes, both Clinton and Westmoreland Parks have existing on-street and off-street parking available.
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