Play is already underway, and Arlington officials on Wednesday, June 10 will celebrate the opening of a new six-court pickleball complex at Walter Reed Community Center.
It is the county’s first dedicated outdoor pickleball facility, using former multi-court space at the community center.
County Board members, local residents and athletes are slated to attend the ribbon-cutting event, to be held at 5 p.m. Courts are located at 2909 16th Street S.
The projected opening of May 22 was delayed owing to inclement weather, but by the end of last week, competition was in full swing. On Friday, May 29 at midday, all courts were filled with competitors, as others waited their turn.
Participants said the two three-court facilities had shown good drainage during recent rains.
Courts will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m.
Until now, pickleball has been the only court sport that did not have a dedicated outdoor facility in Arlington, county officials said. Creation of one had been one of the priorities included in the 2019 Public Spaces Master Plan update.
Interest in pickleball gathered steam during the pandemic, causing a greater push for a dedicated facility at Walter Reed.
The Walter Reed project was not without controversy, however, as nearby residents voiced concerns about noise from play at the existing shared courts there.
In addition to the six dedicated courts, the construction project also included sound-reduction measures, seating areas, landscaping and stormwater management. The court that previously had been shared between basketball and pickleball users has reverted to basketball-only use.
