Dates Survey Accessible On-line:

July 8, 2022 through July 25, 2022 

Online Survey was advertised through: 

• Town of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation webpage (specifically the Tennis and Pickleball webpage)
• Signs at Town of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department outdoor court properties, indoor community centers, and aquatics center.
• Tennis and Pickleball community groups: Friends of Chapel Hill Public Tennis Courts and Chapel Hill Pickleball

Survey Purpose: 

The Town of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department is reviewing a proposal submitted by Chapel Hill Pickleball for the shared-usage of (2) of the (4) tennis courts at Ephesus Park.  To provide an opportunity for users of the Town Chapel Hill outdoor courts to share their experiences and to express their thoughts on potential shared use of outdoor courts, Parks and Recreation invited outdoor court users to use an online survey.  

To view the results of the survey, please click here. 

If you have any additional questions, comments, or concerns as it relates to the survey results:

• Email Recreation Division Manager, Nikiya Cherry your comments, suggestions, and concerns 
• Send written comments, suggestions, and concerns to:

Parks and Recreation
Nikiya Cherry, Recreation Division Manager
200 Plant Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Pilot shared-use program ran from January 27 to March 24, 2023.

• Temporary pickleball lines (2 courts) were marked on tennis court #4 of the tennis facility 
• Pickleball had priority on tennis court #4 on Wednesdays and Fridays from 2-11pm
• Tennis had priority on courts 1-3 year-round and 1-4 seasonally.
• See the full Pilot Program Guidance here
• What's next? townofchapelhill.org/Home/Components/News/News/18529

Shared Use Proposal Discussion

In the spring of 2022, Chapel Hill Pickleball submitted a written proposal requesting shared use of 2 of the 4 remaining tennis courts at Ephesus Park. A tennis stakeholders’ group, Friends of Chapel Hill Public Tennis Courts, submitted a written response. Authorizing shared use would effectively allow pickleball to occur on tennis courts. 

To view the Chapel Hill Pickleball proposal submitted, click here.

To view the response to Chapel Hill Pickleball, submitted by Friends of Chapel Hill Public Tennis Courts, click here.

Shared Use Consideration 

Shared use of facilities is an administrative scheduling decision routinely made by department staff. Current examples include our multi-purpose fields which are used by different sports at different times. Parks and Recreation has continued to listen to the various viewpoints around the shared use of tennis courts. Staff recognize there are concerns that insufficient access to suitable, well-maintained courts negatively affects those who want to play both sports. Staff understands that allowing pickleball to occur on tennis courts could provide a short-term strategy to addressing unprecedented pickleball growth. Staff also acknowledges that allowing pickleball on the tennis courts could potentially provide a less desirable playing experience due to added lines, noise, and increased use leading to potential site constraints. 

At the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission’s June 21, 2022, meeting, the board and staff received public feedback on the shared use proposal. Because there was not a quorum at that meeting, the Commission deferred making a recommendation on the proposal.  To view the recording of the June 2022 Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission meeting in which public input was received on this item.

The recording can be accessed at this link. Reference the portion of the meeting occurring between 0:16.00 and 2:09.00. 

The Commission discussed the shared use item on its agenda September 20, 2022.

Pilot shared-use program ran from January 27, to March 24, 2023.

To stay connected to Cedar Falls, Ephesus, and Hargraves Parks Tennis and Pickleball Courts Renovation Projects, please click here.