Picklers rejoice! Costa Mesa unveils 2 outdoor pickleball courts at Tanager Park

Pickleball — a hybrid of tennis and ping-pong embraced by retirees that’s quickly gaining steam among players of all ages — is on the rise in Costa Mesa, as residents may now play on two new outdoor public courts.

Elected officials, parks employees and residents gathered Wednesday at the city’s Tanager Park to celebrate the courts, configured from a single basketball court, along with a host of improvements recently made at the 7.4-acre site.

The city also replaced the park’s playground and exercise equipment and upgraded a volleyball court, while improving the overall accessibility to Tanager’s amenities, according to city spokesman Tony Dodero, who said the work began in May and just wrapped earlier this month.

The renovation, which cost approximately $275,000, was approved as a capital improvement project identified in the city’s 2021-22 budget and signed off on earlier this year by members of the Parks, Arts and Community Services Commission.

Players including Dang Pham, right, the self-proclaimed Costa Mesa pickleball ambassador, take to the new pickleball courts at Tanager Park in Costa Mesa.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

After a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, picklers (a name given to players who are especially avid about the sport) scrambled onto the courts, rackets in hand. Mayor John Stephens ceremoniously threw out the first serve.

Game playing will be allowed during park hours, from dawn until dusk. Nets are provided by the city, but players must bring their own equipment.

Though Costa Mesa currently offers indoor pickleball at its Downtown Recreation Center, and certain private clubs have opened courts for members to play and take lessons, no permanent outdoor courts existed at city parks for the general public.

Pickleball players meet at the new courts at Tanager Park in Costa Mesa on Tuesday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

As the demand for places to play the sport continues to grow, staff are in the process of considering other locations where courts may be placed.

“Pickleball is one of the most popular sports, and the lack of court space has become an issue over the years,” Dodero wrote in an email. “The city is happy to be able to add this new amenity, which is the first outdoor pickleball court in Costa Mesa.”

Tanager Park is located at 1780 Hummingbird Drive.

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