Pickleball

The Western Springs Park District maintains:

• 8 lighted pickleball courts at the Rotary Pickleball Center in Spring Rock Park
• 4 dedicated pickleball courts at Northeast Park
• Pickleball lines on tennis courts at Springdale Park, Field Park, Laidlaw Park, and Ridge Acres Park

Reserve a Court

Pickleball Information

The Rotary Pickleball Center is open from 6 AM until 10 PM. Restrooms (open from 7 AM until 10 PM) are located just to the east of the Rotary Pickleball Center, the button to activate court lighting is on the northern pillar of the Pickleball Center entry arch, and the nearest water supply is located on the south side of the restrooms.

 Northeast Park is open from 8:30 AM until 8:00 PM. Parking in on-street, a water fountain and porta-johns are on-site, and because the park is in a residential neighborhood, opening and closing times are strictly enforced.

 Adjustable nets or mobile pickleball nets are used at the tennis courts. Reservations are not required to use the nets, although reserving the tennis court (see below) is suggested to guarantee the court.

The Western Springs Park District pickleball schedules shown below designate "drop-in" play times for beginner players, advanced beginner players, intermediate level players, and advanced level players.at Spring Rock's Rotary Pickleball Center and at Northeast Park's pickleball courts. This provides an opportunity for all players to "paddle up" during the scheduled times for each level of play and play with others of similar playing ability.

The various groups may use slightly different formats, but in general the team closest to an outside fence serves first and winners stay and split. If many players are waiting, one of the "regulars" will announce that players should sit out after winning two consecutive games, and if a lot of players are waiting one of the "regulars" will announce it is time to switch to 4 off and 4 on.

Some of the groups have challenge court play. Challenge court play is suspended any time a drop-in group switches to 4 off and 4 on.

One of the main goals of having drop-in play by skill level is to having everyone in the session playing at about the same level, and it isn't fair to other players in a group if one player is much more skilled or much less skilled than everyone else. If you feel you aren't playing at the same level as most of the players in a group, please move either up or down a group.

The pickleball of choice for most of the groups is a Franklin X-40 outdoor ball, with the Selkirk Pro S1 pickleball as a "less likely to crack" alternative when the temperature drops below 45 degrees or so.

While not part of the Western Springs Park District, there are GroupMe chat groups for Spring Rock Pickleball, advanced level players, and intermediate level players. The advanced beginner players have a TeamReach group. If you're interested in joining one of the chat groups, please ask one of the "regulars" at a drop-in session who to contact.

Unless a court has been reserved (see below), open play is available on a "first come - first served" basis during the times shown in the WHITE boxes on the court schedules. If all courts are in use and people are waiting to play, those playing need to leave the courts on the half-hour so waiting players can have a turn.

Reservations for individual courts are available during the WHITE boxes designated for ALL skill levels on the pickleball schedules.

There's a limit of 5 reservations per week per person. Cost is $0 per hour for Residents, $5 per hour for Non-Residents.

The pickleball courts are typically open year-round. If there is snow on the courts and you elect to clear the snow, please be aware that the only tools that may be used are the shovels provided by the Park District. That means no snow blowers or other power devices and no shovels with metal edges.

Do NOT put salt or any chemicals on the pickleball courts

If at all possible, move snow outside the enclosing fencing.

The Western Springs Recreation Department offers indoor pickleball. Please visit https://wsprings.com/654/Pickleball for more info.