A Quick Look at Why San Diego Still Lacks a Pickleball Home

The city of San Diego has promised to build a pickleball court at Robb Field, but the plan never got funded and now looks like it could be delayed until the 2030s. Players have been told to wait for studies, plans and money, but the sport’s rapid growth shows a different story. Pickleball is one of America’s fastest‑growing sports, yet no public facility in San Diego focuses on it. The Pickleball Association of San Diego has long argued that a solution already exists: converting six underused tennis courts at Robb Field into 18 pickleball courts. They offered to pay for the conversion themselves, avoiding any cost to taxpayers. The city rejected the idea, citing concerns about noise and compatibility with tennis. But a nearby venue, Barnes Tennis Center, proves the opposite. It now has 19 dedicated pickleball courts alongside its tennis and padel facilities, showing that the sports can share space.

Its courts are full for tournaments, clinics and casual play, proving that demand is real. Despite this success, the pickleball community still has no say in how public courts are run. Decisions about pricing, scheduling and programming remain with tennis owners or external event organizers who charge players hundreds of dollars to compete. A facility run by pickleball enthusiasts could focus on community outreach, offering programs for seniors, youth and beginners instead of maximizing revenue. Tennis already controls 13 public courts in the city, deciding when and how they’re used. Pickleball players are left without a dedicated venue or a voice in its future. The Association’s proposal is simple: build a public court that serves the sport and let players help shape its priorities. It’s not about waiting for decades; it’s about using existing resources and giving pickleball the same opportunities other sports enjoy.

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