Belltown Pickleball Courts

So let's start with the good: It's a cool amenity to have two dedicated pickleball courts in the shadow of the space needle...let alone a dense urban environment. It's convenient to walk to and the overall condition of the courts is not bad. Now let's get real: The footprint overall for the two courts is too small (the fences are too close to the baselines) and the surface of the courts is not level (this is sitting on a former road surface). It can be busy in the late afternoons and early evenings. As others have noted...these are supposed to be "quiet courts". They are not. Most people I know who are competitive just use their normal paddles. I'm sure the neighbors struggle with the noise...especially if their windows are open. The hours of operation are 9am to 8pm, but I've seen people playing outside of those hours. There are no lights, so during times when the sun sets before 8, bring your glow-in-the-dark ball. It's an interesting attempt by the city to activate and do something with this space, but the execution has a little something to be desired.

City of Seattle, SLU/Belltown deserves safe, spacious, and better pickleball courts—more than two undersized courts with cramped fences and an 8pm curfew. Please expand access and extend hours.

It's too bad the city put these courts in such a densely-populated area, guaranteeing friction between residents and players. To be fair, players may not realize how problematic the noise can be when you have to listen to it all day long. (Some apartments are super close to the courts, getting no relief.) The quiet paddle requirement is the ONLY thing that makes it at all tolerable, but the city has promised more noise abatement measures. Hope they come through. Update: The city has NOT come through. No one uses quiet paddles, so it is noisy as ever.

Quiet paddles only at this court. The court was also locked at 4pm despite hours saying it should be open. It is also slightly undersized and surrounded by busy, loud car traffic.

If you are looking to dink with a view of the space Needle, then this is the place for you. You can rent paddles across the street at the tavern .