For more than a year, Richmond has been debating the legality of using the Craneway Pavilion for pickleball, but the real issue, players say, is there aren’t enough affordable local courts.
While the city of Richmond and the California State Lands Commission are negotiating with Orton Development, the developer leasing the Craneway, over this use of a public building, players say the city of Richmond and neighborhood association councils are, by and large, saying “no” to pickleball play in public parks.
Richmond resident Darlene Drapkin, founder of the East Bay Pickleball Association (EBPA) and USA Pickleball Ambassador, thinks that although some public courts would need upgrades, it would be worth it because otherwise the courts often stand empty.
“Pickleball has been vilified as a sport for people with means,” Drapkin said. “But it’s actually an amazingly inclusive sport that is easy for, and accessible to, all ages.”
Pickleball players pay fees at the Craneway and facilities in nearby cities, but nearly two dozen public courts in Richmond could potentially be used for free, pickleball players say.
The Craneway charges non-members $10 to $25 to reserve one of 12 courts, depending on the length of time required, or $129 for a monthly pass and $199 for a 10-pass package. Players also attend fee-based events, such as the recent June 22 Pride and Pickleball round-robin.
It can be pricey to play at other East Bay facilities. Pickleball Paradise at El Sobrante’s Lakeridge Athletic Club charges users membership fees. A 60-year-old adult would pay $115 a month, along with an “initiation fee” of $350 for a month-to-month membership, while two adults pay $195 per month and a $600 fee. Those under 18 pay $30 per month.
The Booker T, Anderson courts at Booker T. Anderson Jr. Park at Carlson Boulevard and South 47th Street in Richmond allow some pickleball games, thanks in part to Drapkin and the EBPA.
Drapkin said there are typically between 60 to 100 people at those courts when they’re open for play on Fridays and Saturdays. But she says that’s not enough time, and the Richmond City Council won’t allow pickleball hours to be established at other city parks. For example, the city has 22 tennis courts, some of which are underutilized and in need of repair, she said.
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“Pickleball has been vilified as a sport for people with means. But it’s actually an amazingly inclusive sport that is easy for and accessible to all ages.”
— Darlene Drapkin, EBPA founder
Besides Booker T. Anderson Park, there are few other low-cost or free options for pickleball games. The least expensive, Ocean View Park in Albany, opened its pickleball courts on June 11, according to the city’s Recreation and Community Services Department. The website features a welcoming message and notes it’s $8 to play plus $2 to rent a paddle: “Pickleball is for Everyone! Pickleball combines elements from badminton, ping-pong, volleyball and tennis,” the site says. “Come give this fun and addictive sport a try at our weekly drop-in game nights. Everyone is welcome! No experience is necessary.”
Lisa Vogel, a member of the pickleball association’s Facebook group, said she thinks pickleball is drawing more people to outdoor spaces, and the city of Richmond should respond by making public parks more accessible to players.
“Our city government needs to understand pickleball provides a great physical, social and community space for more people than any of these spaces,” Vogel said. “It gets people out of their houses, gets bodies moving and (people) building community.”
David Wolden, also a member of the pickleball association, said that he plays at parks in El Cerrito, Berkeley and Oakland. He said that Booker T. Anderson park’s courts aren’t enough to meet the demand, as they take a lot of wear and tear and are shared with tennis players.
Drapkin said that the EBPA’s efforts have faced pushback from several Richmond neighborhood councils, whose leaders oppose allowing pickleball games at their district’s parks. But she said that the public has showed support for more public court access, such as at Parks and Recreation Commission meetings last year. More than 70 people wrote comments and letters supporting pickleball at Booker T. Anderson, which rivaled the opposition to pickleball voiced at past Richmond City Council meetings.
“The city of Richmond just isn’t being responsive to the city at large,” Drapkin said. “These old neighborhood councils have been around for 50 years, and they make the decisions. But they’re elders, and I don’t even blame them. I blame the city of Richmond for not overriding them.”
Richmond officials, including members of the neighborhood councils, the City Council, and the city’s community development and parks and recreation staff, did not respond to requests from Richmondside for comment.
Craneway popular for pickleball but use disputed
As far as the Craneway goes, last spring, when pickleball courts opened at the facility, a group of protesters decried what they called an obstacle to public access for all to enjoy a city “treasure,” according to a protest flier. Jamin Pursell, co-chair of the Richmond Shoreline Alliance, told Kron4 News in March that, “We want to ensure that the pavilion remains accessible to everyone, not just those interested in a special sport.”
But the Craneway is popular with pickleball players because it’s a well-maintained facility, despite ongoing disputes over whether charging fees to use a public facility is appropriate.
Orton Development initially transformed part of the city-owned site into a standalone pickleball court for an event in March under a long-term lease, despite Richmond City Attorney Dave Aleshire telling them not to because its proposal for a long-term court was under review. A proposal submitted last year by Orton for pickleball courts at the Craneway proposal was rejected by Richmond’s city attorney and the State Lands Commission.
Richmond city staff have been negotiating with Orton for a compliance agreement, such as reducing the amount of space devoted to pickleball. In April, the state’s Lands Commission issued a letter telling city officials that Orton violated its lease terms by planning for a full-time pickleball facility.
The commission’s Granted Lands Program manager Reid Boggiano wrote in the letter that, despite having a full-service restaurant (Ford’s Bar) and a gaming area with ping-pong tables, the pavilion’s main function now seems to be catering to pickleball players.
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“Our stance remains unchanged: The facility primarily serves as a pickleball venue, which staff does not consider a visitor-serving use within the terms of the (lease) agreement.”
— Reid Boggiano, Granted Lands Program Manager, California State Lands Commission
“Our stance remains unchanged: The facility primarily serves as a pickleball venue, which staff does not consider a visitor-serving use within the terms of the (lease) agreement,” Baggiano wrote in the letter. “Staff encourage the city and Orton to work together to modify the project so that it includes a balance of uses that promote a statewide or regional benefit, that are water-dependent or water-related or complement the public’s enjoyment of the waterfront and include necessary incidental amenities.”
In a June 7 email to Richmondside, the commission’s Chief of External Affairs and Legislative Director Sheri Pemberton said that staff sent the letter to the city after visiting the Craneway this spring.
“Commission staff have not been part of recent discussions between Orton and the city regarding the facility, but we are monitoring this closely and are continuing to stay in touch with the city,” Pemberton said.
Stephen Rexrode, a broker and partner at Orton Development, told Richmondside in June that his company is working closely with the city attorney and Richmond officials to reach an agreement.
Rexrode said that, until last year, the Craneway was closed about 80% of the time, other than for private events. Now, it’s open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“The main difference is that, now, rather than the Craneway portion being closed much of the time, we have introduced a sports theme that enables the public to enjoy pickleball or ping pong or other games in addition to having a great meal or drinks with their friends and family,” he said.
David Wolden, the pickleball association member, said losing the Craneway’s pickleball courts would be “troubling,” as that facility’s courts are good quality.
Drapkin agrees. “I think the Craneway is going to prevail. That venue is always being used, more than it ever has been before,” she said.
Pickleball 101
So what IS this sport that Richmond residents have been talking about?
WHAT: Think of it as a sister sport to tennis but with less expensive equipment played in a smaller space.
A tennis court is 78-feet by 36-feet, including the doubles alleys, while a pickleball court is 44-feet by 20-feet wide and does not have doubles lines. You can fit four standard pickleball courts on a regulation-size tennis court.
EQUIPMENT: Pickleball paddles are solid and lighter, weighing up to 9 ounces compared to an average 11 ounces for a tennis racket. The balls, which are typically made of plastic, are nearly an ounce lighter than tennis balls.
Whether playing singles or doubles, people volley the ball back and forth. A match is when one team or player gets ahead by two points, usually played up to a score of 11, making the games shorter. Because the area of play is smaller, it’s considered to be less physically demanding than tennis, making it more accessible to players of varying levels of fitness.
I support pickleball in Richmond. As a Richmond resident I see too many tennis courts not being used that could be converted to pickleball and put to use immediately. I’m not a member of the Craneway because as a retired resident I can’t afford the monthly fee and I feel that most Richmond residents also can’t afford it.
Other cities have reservations available for pickleball at an inexpensive hourly rate. Richmond should convert more courts to pickleball and start a reservation process.
I shake my head every time I walk past the Craneway. It has so much potential to be a destination for diverse uses and activities for people all over the community. Instead the city squandered this wonderful historical space for a select few high bidders. If Richmond ever wants to compete with our neighbors we need better business decisions that are commercially sustainable and inclusive.
Another reason to vote out the RPA council members this fall and bring in new ideas that actually work for residents. Here are three great options: Jamelia Brown, Shawn Dunning, and Daniel Heiss-Nathan.
“the Richmond City Council won’t allow pickleball hours to be established at other city parks. For example, the city has 22 tennis courts, some of which are underutilized and in need of repair,. ”
Come play at the Burg park tennis courts!