Sports Facilities

Tennis and Pickleball Courts

In the summer of 2020, the Park District constructed a brand new six-court pickleball facility at Battle Point Park. This beautiful complex is next to the tennis courts, lined for six pickleball courts. Portable pickleball nets are required to play on these other courts because the boundary lines are overlaid with permanent pickleball lines, making these courts usable for both tennis and pickleball. If you’re looking for courts designated for tennis only, those courts can be found at Strawberry Hill Park and Eagledale Park.

Who can reserve the courts?

• Anyone from the general public
• Sports associations, leagues, and teams
• Bainbridge Island School District
• Non-profit organizations
• Businesses
• Organizations
• Private individuals

The courts that are not in use or scheduled for help can be used on a drop-in basis without a reservation or rental payment.

Pickleball players must yield to tennis players on designated tennis courts. This includes:

• Neighbors, friends, and family for casual activities that are not affiliated with any league or organized team play; or
• Any “pick-up” games that are casually organized, accessible, and not affiliated with any organization that collects payment or charges fees.

All organized pickleball and tennis courts used for private lessons, clinics, and league or tournament play require a written permit. If a permit holder arrives with a written receipt, the court must be vacated. The Park District reserves the right to limit or prohibit an organized group from using a court without a permit. A permit issued by the Park District supersedes any other organization’s permit.

During specific periods or seasons, facilities and courts may be reserved for public use rather than private lessons, clinics, and league or tournament play.

Reservations will be booked on an hourly basis on available courts for an hourly fee consistent with the Park District policy of charging a fee for “exclusive use.” Non-residents will be charged an additional fee on top of the hourly rate.

No person or organization shall sell or offer for sale any article, item, privilege, or service within the park without a permit from the Park District (i.e., team pictures, merchandise, and concessions).

The Park District may photograph and video participants on park property and publish such image(s) in an outlet to promote and publicize the courts.

Please see our Athletic Field and Sports Facility Manual for additional information on rules and policies.

Rental/Reservation Information

To ensure a court’s availability, we recommend that you rent a court. The fee is $12 per court per hour; non-residents will be charged an additional $6 fee per reservation. Please take a look at the current Fee Schedule.

If a court is not used for programming or rentals, courts are available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis for the non-organized play.

Private instructors must be issued a permit before conducting lessons or clinics. If the Park District offers private lessons or clinics similar to what an individual or business requests for the rental, then the Park District has the right to decline the request.

A maximum of three pickleball courts can be reserved at one time for a single reservation. Some exceptions may apply.

To request a court, email rentals@biparks.org or contact Sports Program Manager Audree Gormanson at audreeg@biparks.org or call 206-842-5661 #142.

Access an application. Once submitted, the staff will process the application within three to five business days.

The Park District reserves the right to modify or cancel reservations at any time.

Court Rules

Help the Park District provide an enjoyable tennis or pickleball experience for all. Please follow all rules.

• Use courts at your own risk.
• Courts are open to the general public from dawn to dusk.
• Courts are first-come, first-served.
• Pickleball players must yield to tennis players on designated tennis courts.
• Yield court after one hour of play if others are waiting.
• Players may continue playing after one hour if no other players are waiting.
• No drilling/practice time when courts are full.
• Yield courts to permitted rentals.

Pickleball Camera Access

Check the availability of open pickleball courts from the comfort of your own home!

Input this link into any RTSP viewer: rtsps:// 173.10.66.217:7441/yJFtnJ7HKpSqgdiy?enableSrtp

Instructions when accessing the link through VLC:

1. Select Media, then Stream.
2. Choose Network.
3. Enter the URL and choose Stream.
4. Choose Next, Next, Next, and finally, Stream.

(VLC is a free RTSP viewer. The Park District does not endorse or authorize any specific viewing software.)

The screen may take a few seconds to load, but it will eventually appear.

Additional Pickleball Resources

• How to play Pickleball video
• How to Play Pickleball website
• Bainbridge Island Pickleball Club

History of Pickleball

Pickleball was invented in 1965 here on Bainbridge Island by three enterprising dads – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. Their children were bored with their typical summertime activities. It evolved from the original handmade equipment and simple rules into a popular sport throughout the US and is now taking off in other parts of the world. The origin of the game’s name is fascinating, mainly because no pickles are used. Accounts of how the name originated differ. Joel Pritchard’s wife (Joan) started calling the game pickleball because “the combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats.” However, according to Barney McCallum, the game was officially named after the Pritchards’ dog, Pickles, who would chase the ball and run off with it. Others claim both accounts may be true. In the early years, no official name was assigned to the game. However, a year or two after the game was invented, the Pritchard’s purchased a Cocker Spaniel and named it Pickles. As the game progressed, an official name and “pickleball” were needed.

Pickleball is a court sport played on a badminton-sized court with the net set to a height of 34 inches at the center. It is played with a perforated plastic ball like a Whiffle ball and paddles about twice the size of ping-pong paddles. It can be played indoors or outdoors and is easy for beginners to learn, but it can develop into a fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players. Pickleball can be played on tennis courts with specific pickleball lines. Up to four pickleball courts can be fit onto a single tennis court.

Transmitter Building

This restored facility is over 3,100 square feet and accommodates gymnastics classes, open play time and other recreational programs.

For info on facility hours, programs, Open Playtime, and rental opportunities (Birthday Parties, Custom Classes, and Private Lessons) please visit our Gymnastics page.