Balancing demand for tennis and pickleball: Hot topic takes center court in Montgomery Parks’ September Virtual Speaker Series

Experts to discuss ways to meet the growing demand for pickleball in local park systems where tennis remains popular. 

WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks’ September Virtual Speaker Series is delving into the competition for court space between tennis players and players of pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. 
A panel of experts will discuss the challenges of meeting the rapidly growing demand for pickleball in local park systems, comparing the situation in Montgomery County with other areas of the country. 

WHAT:     Panel discussion: What a Pickle! Balancing the demand for pickleball and tennis in parks                 

WHO:       The event is free and open to all 

WHEN:     Friday September 8, 2023, 1:00-2:30 p.m. 

WHERE:  The session is held online. Registration available via this online form:  
               Click here to join the session  
               

“Pickleball is a growing sport, and I’m looking forward to this wide-ranging discussion about how parks systems can meet the need for new pickleball facilities,” said Montgomery Parks Director Mike Riley. “Montgomery County and communities across the country are grappling with issues from court access to impacts on neighbors, and we need to share information and learn from each other.”  

Pickleball’s popularity continues to grow rapidly in Montgomery County and across the country. This fun, low-impact sport is played on a portion of a tennis court, or on smaller dedicated courts, with a tennis-like net. Players use paddles slightly larger than ping pong paddles to hit a plastic whiffle ball over the net. The sport is easy for people of all ages to learn, but often becomes very competitive among experienced players. 
 
In 2019, Montgomery Parks concluded a multi-year study to assess how and where the agency can meet the demand for pickleball. Many of the recommendations have been implemented since then, and Montgomery Parks now has nearly 100 pickleball courts with many more planned. Using input from residents, pickleball players and tennis players, Montgomery Parks is always looking for ways to add more opportunities for outdoor pickleball play while mitigating potential negative impacts to nearby residents.   

About the Speakers 

• David Robinson has worked in the tennis industry for 43 years. He is a certified teaching pro of tennis and pickleball and is currently the director of racquet sports for the Little Falls Swim and Racquet Club in Bethesda, Maryland.  David is vice president of the board of directors for the US Professional Tennis Association – Mid Atlantic. He also served as the tennis and pickleball representative on the Montgomery Parks Sport Court Working group in 2018-2019, that included the agency’s 2019 Pickleball Study.  
   
• Carl Schmits is the USA Pickleball Association’s managing director of Equipment Standards & Facilities Development. In this role, Carl and his team are responsible for the definition, design, and implementation of specifications, standards and testing protocols. Carl is USA Pickleball’s primary liaison with the manufacturers and independent certification lab on all testing matters. He also oversees and manages USA Pickleball’s equipment compliance department. 
   
• Stacie West is a principal parks planner for Denver Parks and Recreation, where she works on citywide plans and policies to ensure the continued stewardship of the Denver parks and parkways system. Prior to moving to Denver in 2021, Stacie worked in Washington, DC, for a public-private partnership to plan, design, and build a network of new parks and public spaces in the NoMa Business Improvement District.  She was also a community planner for the DC Department of Parks and Recreation. 

About Montgomery Parks      
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 419 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems.  
Accessibility  
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Accessibility for more information.  

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