By Lookout Staff

December 1, 2023 -- To accommodate the growing demand for pickleball, Santa Monica's Memorial Park is now offering reservations for court time and select sessions, City officials announced Thursday.

The select sessions -- for novice, intermediate and advanced players -- are available on Mondays and Wednesdays between 5 and 9:30 p.m. and on weekends.

The Saturday and Sunday sessions take place from 8 to 11 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. A total of 12 to 16 courts is available per session.

The fee for reservations is $3 per person per session for Santa Monica residents and $5 for non-residents, officials said.

“I’m thrilled to see this new system come online for those who are brand new to the sport, for our intermediate players or for advanced players wishing to play with others at their skill level,” said Jenny Rogers, director of Recreation and Arts.

“Through our partnership with the pickleball club and the school district, we are able to offer a diverse array of experiences for pickleball enthusiasts here in Santa Monica.”

Started in 2015, the city’s pickleball program partnered with the newly formed Santa Monica Pickleball Club to continue to offer drop-in sessions at Memorial Park during the pandemic, City officials said

As the sport gained widespread popularity, the wait times for courts grew with no guarantee for players under the open, drop-in system.

"The new reservable system is intended to meet the community’s need for an informal drop-in experience while also providing better access to courts," officials said.

"The Santa Monica Pickleball Club continues to be a key partner in offering complementary programming, including pickleball clinics and tournaments."

The tennis/pickleball courts at John Adams Middle School continue to be available for free drop-in play on weekends through the joint use agreement between the city and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, officials said.

For more information, visit santamonica.gov/programs/pickleball.