COVID Court Options and Guidelines
Please wear a mask when you are waiting at a pickleball court and when a doubles partner requests it. Everyone is expected to wear masks when not maintaining 6 feet distance.
NOTE:
Most courts have special requirements that must be followed. Please be supportive by adhering to these modified protocols during this time period. Thank you.
NOTE: If you’d like to join a list of players sharing contact information to make pickleball connections, visit https://
LOCAL COURT OPTIONS AND GUIDELINES
INDOOR VENUES AS OF MID-FEBRUARY:
Please check specific venue details, mask requirements, and updates!
Birch Bay Activity Center; Court reservations available by phone for up to 6 players per court; There are two courts. 360-656-6416. $3 pp. Players from mixed households are OK, but play within a pickleball bubble is encouraged. (Three outdoor courts also available by reservation.)
Bellingham Athletic Club; Members can reserve a spot in the gym for pickleball. (360) 676-1800 memberservices@bellinghamathleticclub.com
Bellingham YMCA; One court available by a 60-minute reservation for up to 4 people, Mon-Sat. No charge for Y members, and non-members can purchase a day pass. https://www.whatcomymca.org/pickleball-basketball-reservations ; 360-733-8630
You can use this form if you want to be matched with a pickleball partner for play at the YMCA.
Semiahmoo Resort; Spa club members and hotel guests can reserve an indoor court up to two weeks in advance. Each spa member can reserve one court for up to 6 players for a two-hour period. There are four indoor courts.
BELLINGHAM PARK COURT GUIDELINES
All guidelines were set in collaboration between BPC & Bellingham Parks and Rec Dep’t.
*NOTE ALL:
- Plan to meet up to gather and play in a small group of 2-5 people.
- There is no large drop-in, congregating, or group play allowed at courts.
- Maintain a 6-foot distance with non-household members and/or wear a mask.
Mask wearing is encouraged. - Once others are waiting for a court, play is limited to 1-hour max.
Please be considerate.
When waiting for a Cornwall dedicated court, use the “Next-Up Paddle Queue”. - Minimize passage through occupied courts.
Check that it is ok to pass AND keep distance from others. - Singles (including “skinny singles”) and doubles have equal court priority.
Skinny Singles: https://youtu.be/NFMLlzQt2TY
Regular Singles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1ZL9tdP87k - Players may bring a net to set up on “multi-use” courts.
- Stagger sessions from dawn to dusk to minimize wait times & congestion.
- Please assess your own health, safety, & risk factors, and take care of yourself.
- All relevant local and state guidelines apply.
BELLINGHAM PARK COURTS
Fairhaven Park has lines for use with tennis nets, and/or for two portable nets.
Padden & Elizabeth Parks have tennis courts with painted lines to use tennis nets.
Birchwood Park on Cedarwood has a basketball court with lines for two portable nets.
Cornwall Park Tennis/ Pickleball “Multi-use” Courts::
There are two tennis courts which are striped for 4 pickleball courts with portable nets, or 2 courts using the tennis nets.
Open for play with above guidelines.
NOTE: A limited number of nets are available for borrowing by BPC members for several weeks at a time.
CORNWALL DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS: 6 dedicated pball courts are open for play, with above guidelines.
COVERED PLAYSHEDS
A number of outdoor covered school “playsheds” are available for use during after-school hours.
These Playsheds have been measured and marked by BPC volunteers for one or more courts.
You will need a portable net, and sometimes chalk is helpful as well.
PARKS OUTSIDE OF BELLINGHAM
LYNDEN CITY PARK has a pickleball court with permanent net and has remained open.
BENDER FIELD in Lynden now has 4 dedicated pickleball courts.
HILLCREST PARK in Mt Vernon has three dedicated courts open (of six total). Players must come in groups of 2-5 and play with that group. There is no group or drop-in play. If players are waiting, play 2 games and rotate off courts. Use safe distancing with other groups.
Note: If you make the personal choice to play pickleball during this time, we highly recommend that you use excellent hygiene measures & physical distancing to minimize the potential spread from person to person. And of course, cover sneezes & coughs with your arm, avoid physical contact, and don’t come if you feel sick at all, have recently tested positive, or have been around people who have been sick or tested positive. During this time it is safer to play in small closed groups with agreed upon hygiene practices than in an open group. If you are in a high-risk health category, we recommend that you not play in open groups.
NEW BPC-Hosted Sessions:
February 29th – April 3rd @ School Gyms
For liability reasons, you must be or become a BPC member to participate at school gyms. (https://bellinghampickleball.org/membership/)
Saturdays 1pm-4pm @ Meridian High School Gym
Courts: 4 indoor badminton courts, with 2 limited additional courts
Cost: $6-20 (sliding scale).
Limit of 20 people per session
NEW: “Top Pickle” Ladder
Start with drills, & then play “Top Pickle”, where players move up a court & split when they win a game, while players move down a court & split when they lose a game.
Feb. 29th: Levels 2.5-3.0;
March 7th: Levels 3.0-3.5
March 21st: Levels 3.5-4.0
March 28th: Levels 2.0-2.5
For an invitation, contact Carsten @ ckroon@gmail.com or 360-746-1298, and include: Name, contact info, AND date of session(s). You’ll want to download the SPOND app to get an invitation.
Friday Nights @ Sehome High Gym; 6-9pm
Courts: 3 badminton courts in auxiliary gym;
Cost $3-8 (you choose)
Limit of 15 people
To request a session invitation, include name, contact info, AND session date. You’ll want to download the SPOND app to get an invitation.
We need folks to volunteer as hosts to ensure these sessions happen. To volunteer or inquire, contact bellinghampickle@gmail.com
March 6th:
Beginner to low novice; (Levels 1.0-2.0); Coached drills, and open play.
Hosted by Goebels. Contact bagoebel@gmail.com
CANCELLED by School District March 13th:
Level 2.0 – 2.5; Coached Drills, rotating drill games, plus play; Led by Dotti Berry.
Contact Carsten @ ckroon@gmail.com or 360-746-1298.
March 20th:
Levels 2.5-3.0; Drills, and then play.
Contact salishsue@gmail.com or 360-671-7109.
March 27th:
Levels 3.0-3.5; Drills and then play.
Contact ckroon@gmail.com or 360-746-1298.
April 3rd:
Level 3.5 & above; Drills, and then play.
Contact ckroon@gmail.com or 360-746-1298
Cornwall Park, Bellingham
REFER TO “COVID OPTIONS” LISTED ABOVE.
For inquiries, contact bellinghampickle@gmail.com.
Fairhaven Park, Bellingham
REFER TO “COVID OPTIONS” LISTED ABOVE.
For inquiries, contact bellinghampickle@gmail.com.
YMCA, Bellingham
REFER TO “COVID OPTIONS” LISTED ABOVE.
The downtown Bellingham YMCA has two indoor courts during scheduled drop-in pickleball as well as indoor league play and teaching clinics.
https://www.whatcomymca.org/bellingham-gymnasium (gym schedule)
Bellingham Covenant Church, Bellingham
VENUE IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.
1530 E. Bakerview, Bellingham 98226
Beginners – low novice (under 2.5): Thursdays 2:30-4pm; Mondays 7:30-9pm.
2.0 through 2.5 (lower novice & upper novice) with an emphasis on drills for those who want coaching: Tuesdays 2:30-4pm
Sessions start with drills, and progress to game play.
Hosts: Ed G., & Dirk V., with support from Marv B., and Paula T.
Contact: bagoebel@gmail.com for a “Spond” invitation.
Sehome High School Gym, Bellingham
VENUE IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.
3.0 – 3.5; Tuesday 6pm-9pm.
The sessions will start with drills, and progress to game play.
Hosts are Erica & Amy.
Contact ericakulm1@gmail.com
NOTE: Session invitations may already be closed due to high demand.
Fairhaven Middle School Gym, Bellingham
VENUE IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.
There are two halves of the gym, each with three lined badminton courts (which means we only need to tape the kitchen lines). Because volunteer BPC hosts have stepped up, we have been able to reserve ½ gym or the entire gym for various available evenings. These are for designated levels in correlation to the choice of the hosts who are volunteering.
SESSION CHOICES ARE:
2.0 – 3.0 Thursday @ 6pm; East gym with Hosts Susan and Rick
NOTE: Session invitations are currently closed due to high demand.
Contact: Susan & Rick @ salishsue@gmail.com of 360-671-7109
Join us for fun as we continue to learn to control shots and develop game strategy. We’ll learn skill-sharpening drills and exercises prior to lots of time for playing games. At some sessions we’ll also incorporate 4D drill-skill assessments as time & helpers permit. (Deep Serve, Deep Return, Dropshots, & Dinks).
3.25 – 3.5 @ Thursday @ 6pm; West gym with Kim Hei
NOTE: Session invitations are currently closed due to high demand.
Contact: Kim @ klphei101@hotmail.com or 651-900-4543
Our objective is to have fun with particular focus on ball control and improving skills . After starting with skills then games, we may break halfway through for a few skill-reinforcing rounds such as dink-only or 3rd shot drop games.
3.75 – 4.5 Tuesday @ 6pm; West gym with Carsten Kroon
Contact Carsten @ ckroon@gmail.com or 360-746-1298 for an invitation
The sessions will start with drills, and progress to a Shoot-out Ladder format, followed by open play.
If you have general questions, contact bellinghampickle@gmail.com.
Skagit YMCA, Mt. Vernon
PHASE 2 PLANNING & STATUS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. PLEASE CONTACT DIRECTLY.
https://skagit.recliquecore.com/classes/printer_friendly/?BranchID=13 (gym schedule)
(360) 336-9622; welcomecenter@skagitymca.org
Birch Bay Activity Center, Blaine
REFER TO “COVID OPTIONS” LISTED ABOVE.
BBAC (Part of Birch Bay and Blaine Parks and Rec) has regularly scheduled indoor pickleball times for drop in play by level during daytime and evening sessions.
Semiahmoo Resort, Blaine
REFER TO “COVID OPTIONS” LISTED ABOVE.
The fitness center at the Semiahmoo Resort, Blaine has four indoor pickleball courts for scheduled drop-in pickleball, as well as two outdoor tennis courts.
https://www.semiahmoo.com/health-club.php
Front Desk: 360-318-2009; Email: Brenda @ hbgelwicks@mail.com / Suzanne @ smelby@semiahmoo.com
Bender Field, Lynden
Lynden City Park, Lynden
Hillcrest Park, Mt Vernon
Bellingham Athletic Club (Cordata), Bellingham
REFER TO “COVID OPTIONS” LISTED ABOVE.
The BAC at Cordata has 1 indoor pickleball court for drop-in play in their gym, as well as 3 outside courts.
Have we missed a place to play? Contact us if you think there is more information that should be added to the list above.