At the Beverly Hills Recreation and Parks Commission meeting on Feb. 25, commissioners voted to move forward with proposed accommodations for pickleball players at Roxbury Tennis Center and La Cienega Tennis Center, and recommended priorities for the Community Services Department Commission’s annual work plan.
The meeting began with an item proposing that court one at Roxbury Tennis Center and courts eight and 12 at La Cienega Tennis Center be converted to pickleball courts by restriping, as well as an additional request to convert court seven for pickleball. Court one at La Cienega Tennis Center, which has already been converted to a pickleball court, would be restored to a tennis court.
The proposal was based on previous discussions about the growing popularity of pickleball and the desire of local players to have space for games and tournaments in Beverly Hills.
Before commissioners began their discussion, over a dozen public comments that had been submitted by residents were read by city staff on the issue. A majority of commenters were opposed to the changes; however, a vocal minority offered their support of the plan.
Those opposed to converting courts from tennis to pickleball were largely local tennis players concerned about noise, crowds and increased difficulty in booking a court.
“Please do not remove any additional tennis courts … for pickleball use at the La Cienega Tennis Center,” read one of the comments. “We are already strapped for tennis courts, and pickleball is a passing fad.”
Those in favor of more pickleball courts primarily cited the need to accommodate the community’s growing interest in the sport.
“I would like to see additional courts dedicated to pickleball at the La Cienega Tennis Center location,” read a comment in favor of the changes. “It would be fantastic if all pickleball courts were permanently striped for pickleball.”
Following a discussion about the possibility of recommending court four at La Cienega Tennis Center rather than court seven, the commissioners decided to move forward with city staff’s recommendations.
The plan was approved by City Council liaisons in an ad hoc meeting Feb. 27 and will now go before the full City Council.
In other business, the commission identified its top five priorities for the Community Services Department Commission’s annual work plan. According to a city memorandum included with the meeting agenda, service areas that fall under the purview of Recreation and Parks include early education and youth recreation, tennis and pickleball, the Beverly Hills Library and more.
Photo courtesy city of Beverly Hills
The commission was presented with the existing top five priorities by city staff before being given the opportunity to present their own recommendations. City staff noted that the restoration of La Cienega Park, including the playground area, will remain on the department’s work plan, leaving commissioners with four remaining priorities to set.
Commissioner Tara Riceberg recommended prioritizing e-bike safety, implementing digital signage at Roxbury Park and offering to host the Palisades Will Rogers 5K and 10K, which has in the past taken place in Pacific Palisades.
She focused her comments largely on the dangers presented by e-bikes. Noting a recent event in which, she said, a group of young people on e-bikes damaged Roxbury Park, Riceberg advocated for better safety measures and signage.
“E-bikes are pretty much terrorizing Beverly Hills and Los Angeles,” she said. “We do not have enough cameras on the parks, there are no eyes watching. There is no signage saying no e-bikes allowed on the property … This is unacceptable, and we have to guarantee the safety of the park.”
Commissioner Aime Sherry recommended implementing a social media workshop as part of the department’s offerings, and Chair Deborah Termeie suggested expanding the Teen Advisory Committee, reviving the greenhouse at the Greystone Mansion and Gardens and expanding programming for the annual July Parks Make Life Better event.
Following discussion, commissioners identified large park signage and rules, the conclusion of the pickleball pilot program, implementing digital signage and expanding the annual July Parks Make Life Better as their priorities.
Those items will be presented to the Recreation and Parks City Council Liaisons at their next meeting.
