Recreation and Park Commission Passes Reservation Fees at Select Tennis, Pickleball Locations

Nearly 60% of locations will remain walk-up, while others will implement a $5 fee to hold a court

A $5 reservation fee at select tennis and pickleball locations was passed unanimously by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission today.

The initiative, which will go before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for final approval, aims to streamline court management while ensuring equitable access to tennis and pickleball facilities across the city. It was proposed by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department in response to community feedback and increasing demand for fair court access.

Under the fee structure, players will pay a modest $5 per hour for the convenience of making an online reservation at 28 of the 66 locations overseen by Rec and Park. Meanwhile, 57 percent of locations will continue to have courts available for walk-up play on a first-come, first-served basis. These courts have been strategically dispersed geographically, minimizing travel distances for players. 

The locations with $5 fees to reserve courts include: Alice Marble, Balboa, Crocker Amazon, DuPont, Fulton, Hamilton, Helen Wills, J.P. Murphy, Jackson, Lafayette, McLaren, Minnie & Lovie Ward, Miraloma, Moscone, Mountain Lake, Parkside, Potrero Hill, Presidio Wall, Richmond, St. Mary’s, Stern Grove, Sunset, and Upper Noe. Locations that would have both reservable and walk-up courts include: Buena Vista, Dolores, Glen Canyon Park, Joe DiMaggio, and Rossi. All other locations are walk up only.

The proposal reflects years of community engagement and input, with stakeholders advocating for measures to prevent frequent overbooking and misuse of reservations by players, which has led to conflicts at San Francisco’s busiest tennis and pickleball locations. By implementing a modest reservation fee, the department aims to discourage overbooking and ensure that courts are used efficiently, benefiting players across the city. In addition, the system is set up to encourage cancellation of reservations that a player has decided not to use by crediting back a portion of the fee. Under the previous free reservation policy courts were booked and not utilized, causing frustration for players seeking open courts.     

For more information about pickleball in the Rec. and Park system, including how to reserve a court, where to play, and what’s new, click here. In addition, the department has provided FAQs about the reservation fees.