San Francisco's pickleball and tennis communities have long been at odds, with incidents of vandalism and heated confrontations marking their shared use of courts.

We've actually reported on this feud several times now.

However, a new proposal aims to foster peaceful coexistence by keeping the courts separate.

Separate but equal

"We will not go on the tennis courts, and they will not go on the pickleball courts, and we will all say 'hi' as we pass each other," said Mary Hickey, a USA Pickleball ambassador, in an interview with the Chronicle.

Hickey, known for her dedication to promoting pickleball through free clinics at the Presidio Wall every Tuesday, was among the passionate advocates who addressed the Recreation and Parks Commission meeting last Thursday.

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The crux of their proposal?

Separate, side-by-side courts for tennis and pickleball at Stern Grove.

The proposal is up for vote

This idea aims to prevent disputes over court usage, as each sport requires different setups and nets, with pickleball players often bringing their own equipment. The proposed plan includes four permanent pickleball courts adjacent to a single tennis court, challenging Rec and Parks' current plan for dual-purpose courts marked for both sports.

Phil Ginsburg, Rec and Parks' General Manager acknowledged the thoughtfulness of the proposal despite typically not responding to public comments.

"We normally don’t respond to public comment, but I did want to acknowledge the good faith, creative idea about using space to resolve user conflicts, which has been a big challenge with these sports that compete for the same court time," Ginsburg said.

While Ginsburg noted that the current plan for shared courts might be difficult to change due to existing contracts, he encouraged collaboration between pickleball players and Rec and Parks’ tennis and pickleball working group.

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Theft and vandalism

However, he also observed problematic behavior from both sides.

Prior to a water main rupture in August 2021, which caused $20 million in damages and closed Stern Grove’s facilities for repairs, tennis, and pickleball players shared the courts.

The courts are set to reopen with the hybrid model, which Hickey and others criticized for leading to costly replacements of rolling nets due to vandalism and altercations.

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During the commission meeting, pickleball enthusiasts presented a detailed PowerPoint outlining their separate-court plan, citing multiple incidents of hostility over the past 17 months.

This included thefts of six pickleball nets from Rossi Park and vandals slashing a net at Rossi pickleball courts on Monday, the same day the thefts occurred. Vandals also cut nets in half at Moscone Recreation Center and threw nets over the fence at Buena Vista Park.

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Peter Mueller, a pickleball community advocate, expressed frustration over these incidents. "If you go to a place one day, and return the next day and the nets are slashed, it’s reasonable to assume they were vandalized," Mueller said.

A particularly intense incident on July 4 at Rossi Park involved tennis players aggressively moving their nets onto a court during a pickleball game, escalating to shouting and a physical altercation.

A desire for peace

Despite these challenges, there is a common ground: the desire for permanent, delineated courts.

"The common desire for the pickleball and tennis communities are dedicated-line courts," said Lilian Murphy, another USA Pickleball ambassador.

"Tension is eliminated, all-day play is accessible, clear boundaries are set for recreational play."

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Murphy acknowledged the additional costs and challenges the proposed revision might pose for Rec and Parks, suggesting "partnership funding" from the pickleball community as a solution.

While the fate of the proposal remains uncertain, Mueller felt encouraged by Ginsburg’s recognition of their efforts, even if the plan doesn't move forward exactly as hoped.