The Tucson city council voted unanimously, during a study session to remove fees charged to pickleball players at Udall Park.
The fee of $3.50 per court, per 90 minutes was proposed in April by Tucson Parks and Recreation.
Council member Paul Cunningham met with members of Tucson Area Pickleball, or TAP, on May 4. Leonard Finkel, a board member of TAP, helped draft the proposal presented at Monday’s meeting.
“Well, the goal then was to come to an agreement,” Finkel said.
On Tuesday, the city council voted unanimously, during a study session to remove the fees. Finkel watched the study session live.
“So we tuned in and I watched the motion,” Finkel said. “I jumped up and down and threw my fist in the air because that was basically it. We had the deal.”
Dominick DeCarlo, an avid pickleball player who frequents Udall courts, said he was pleased with Cunningham’s effort to revoke the fees.
However, DeCarlo said removing the $3.50 fee does not mean that pickleball at Udall will be entirely free.
“People now understand better the role of TAP into managing the courts for free [which means] keeping open play for us for free. But free doesn't mean that there's no cost,” DeCarlo said.
Under the motion Cunningham brought before council, TAP would manage the courts and collect donations to help build three additional courts over the next five years.
DeCarlo said the arrangement benefits both players and the city.
“They got it made. They don’t have any headaches about pickleball at Udall. We’re paying for all the maintenance,” DeCarlo said.
Megan Hughes, president of TAP, said the organization understands the responsibility involved in future pickleball projects.
“I definitely don't want to portray all the people at [Udall pickleball] as people who are just like ‘we won't pay!’, because it really wasn't that,” Hughes said. “It was the whole system of destroying the community.”
TAP plans to request a $25 annual donation and encourage players to help cover future costs.
Hughes and DeCarlo said fundraisers, sponsorships and tournaments will help finance the courts. The City Council is expected to take an official vote June 9 on proposed fee changes at other parks and programs citywide.
To celebrate the decision, DeCarlo said players will gather May 8 at the Udall pickleball courts.
