Public Pay to Play: Lucrative or Lunacy?

In a world where public spaces are increasingly being monetized, local pickleball courts have found themselves in the crosshairs of controversy. 

Municipalities all over New Jersey are beginning to capitalize on pickleball’s meteoric rise in popularity by charging players for the use of their public courts, and players are outraged. 

“Why should I pay at a PUBLIC court? I already pay high taxes for these courts! If I am going to pay, I’ll go to an academy or clinic where I can get some instruction from a real pro and improve my game.”

But, the idea of charging players for use of public courts isn’t necessarily new. Brookdale Park, a popular public recreation spot in Montclair, NJ, has been charging $6 per player to use their pickleball courts for years. Astonishingly, this fee is strictly enforced at all hours of the day during the outdoor season. 

Some players suggest that this practice is harmful for the growth of pickleball and driving players away from public pay to play locations. 

Another local pickleball player said that she has “stopped going to Brookdale Park altogether” because she doesn’t believe she should pay up to $24 per hour for use of a public court. 

Moreover, local players have been complaining that the courts haven't been cleaned since the start of the 2023 season, arguing that the allocation of resources to monitor this fee collection rather than focusing on other maintenance and management tasks speaks volumes about misplaced priorities.

With new pickleball courts popping up seemingly every day, will those who charge a fee to play at public courts see a marked decrease in playership? The answer is likely yes, as it’s clear that some locations are already experiencing an exodus.