Believe it or not, pickleball has been a hot bed of controversy for the last year or so in Lake Oswego. It has been played at George Roger’s Park for several years. It’s super popular and engages people of all ages. That popularity meant that the courts were used quite a lot. The noise of the game play bothered the residents in the neighborhood. It really bothered them. In January the Lake Oswego City Council voted to permanently close the courts at George Roger’s Park.
What is going to happen now?
In the same city council meeting that closed the courts at George Roger’s Park, the city council ordered Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation to explore converting the tennis courts at Westlake Park into Pickleball Courts. This process is expected to take about 10 months.
In the mean time, a local business owner is stepping up. Kent and Jami Drangsholt, owners of At the Garages Live Music Venue Eatery & Taphouse, are installing 2 full-sized Pickleball courts and 2 smaller, “dink” courts. Use of the courts will require a monthly membership, which is not ideal for everyone, however, I think the venue will be fun because along with Pickleball, people will be able to grab a bite to eat and to enjoy live music. I think it’s an attractive alternative while the community waits for the development of the courts at Westlake Park.
Lake Oswego does have a Pickleball Club. If you want to have the latest updates on Pickleball in Lake Oswego, this is a good place to start. For access to club information, click here.
I hope you have found this information to be helpful. As always, thanks for reading the blotter.
Dianne