アリゾナ州テンピ市は、テンピ・スポーツコンプレックスのピックルボールコートを8面から16面に倍増させ、2026年4月24日にグランドオープンを迎えた。予算は市の公園資本改善プログラム（Parks Capital Improvement Program）から拠出され、同プログラムは5年間で6,000万ドル超（約90億円）を市内の公園整備に投じる大規模計画の一環だ。入場無料・先着順のフリープレイが基本で、行政主導のピックルボール施設としては全米でも最大級の規模となる。
Project overview -- fully renovating the existing 8 courts and adding 8 new ones
The Tempe Sports Complex opened 8 pickleball courts in 2019. It drew attention as Arizona's first ADA-compliant (disability-accessible) pickleball courts, and local community use has surged since opening.
This expansion project ran the full renovation (resurfacing) of the existing 8 courts and the construction of 8 new courts simultaneously. All courts were closed for about three weeks, from April 6 to 24, to complete the work. The new courts are also ADA accessible.
Facility spec comparison -- before doubling vs. after
| Item | Before expansion (since 2019) | After expansion (from April 24, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of courts | 8 courts | 16 courts |
| ADA compliant | Yes (state first) | All 16 courts compliant |
| Usage fee | Free | Free |
| Usage method | First-come, first-served free play | First-come, first-served free play (except during class times) |
| Hours | Daytime | 5:00-23:00 (summer) |
| Lighting | Available | All 16 courts lit for night play |
Summer hours are 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Given Arizona's harsh daytime heat, it's practical that they secure early-morning and evening times for play.
Budget and background -- a $60 million, five-year parks plan
This court expansion was carried out as part of Tempe's Parks Capital Improvement Program. This program is a large-scale plan that investsmore than $60 million (about 9 billion yen)in the city's park infrastructure over five years, and doubling the pickleball courts is positioned as one of its priority projects.
The basis for the expansion decision was an updated survey for Tempe's "Parks and Recreation Master Plan." As a result of a resident survey and data analysis, adding pickleball courts emerged as the most in-demand facility-improvement item. The city deciding to add courts in a data-driven way is a model case instructive for Japanese municipalities too.
Grand opening details -- ribbon-cutting and live demo
2026年4月24日のグランドオープンでは、午後5時から7時までの2時間にわたり、リボンカット・セレモニーとライブデモンストレーションが予定されていた。テンピ市の公園・レクリエーション部門が主催し、市民が新コートを体験できるイベントとなる予定だった。実際の開催状況や参加者反応については、テンピ市の公式情報を参照されたい。
Community reaction -- "the government is genuinely supporting pickleball"
"When it opened in 2019 I thought 8 courts was enough, but within three years wait times became the norm. With 16 courts, the morning crowding should ease considerably." -- a Tempe pickleball player (paraphrased from a social media post)
"A public facility where you can use 16 courts for free is among the best in the US. While private facilities on monthly plans cost over $100 a month, Tempe's effort is exemplary." -- Arizona pickleball enthusiast community
"It's wonderful that they adopted ADA compliance from the start. For players with disabilities, pickleball is a sport with a low barrier to entry. If facility-side accessibility is in place, participants will grow further." -- a member of a disability sports support group
Impact on Japanese players -- as an advanced model for public courts
What the Tempe case suggests to Japanese players is the possibility of government-run public pickleball court development. In Japan, private facilities (Tokyo Tower CourtPickleball One and others) run ahead, but public facility development often amounts to no more than repurposing municipal gyms or tennis courts.
A model that, like Tempe, develops dedicated pickleball courts with public funds based on a survey of residents' needs and opens them for free will be a concrete benchmark when Japanese municipalities set out to promote pickleball.
Facility expansion accelerating across the US -- Tempe is the "third wave"
There are three currents in the 2026 pickleball facility market.
- Rapid expansion of large private chains: The Picklr opening new locations in succession across the US. In April it opened Seattle-Fremont (10 courts) and West Allis, Wisconsin (10 courts)
- Premium urban facilities: CityPickle's Central Parkand other high-value models that open on prime land in city centers
- Expansion of public facilities: free courts developed with government budgets, like Tempe. These become the foundation for sustainable adoption
テンピの16面は「公営施設がピックルボールを本格的に支える時代」の象徴だ。無料で利用でき、ADA対応で、営業時間も工夫されている点は、民間施設では実現しにくいモデル。公営と民間の両輪により、より多くの層がピックルボールにアクセスできる環境が整った。
Tempe Sports Complex facility information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Facility Name | Tempe Sports Complex |
| Location | Tempe, Arizona |
| Number of courts | 16 courts (from April 24, 2026) |
| Grand opening | April 24, 2026, 17:00-19:00 |
| Hours | 5:00-23:00 (summer) |
| Usage fee | Free (first-come, first-served free play) |
| ADA compliant | All 16 courts compliant |
| Budget | Part of the Parks Capital Improvement Program (over $60 million over five years) |
| Operator | City of Tempe Parks and Recreation department |
Summary
テンピ市がピックルボールコートを倍増させた背景には、住民ニーズの調査データと、5年6,000万ドルの公園整備予算という行政の本気がある。無料・ADA対応・16面という規模は、公営ピックルボール施設の新基準を打ち立てた。日本でも自治体主導のピックルボールコート整備が議論され始めており、テンピの事例は具体的な先行モデルとして注目に値する。実際の利用状況や住民満足度のデータが他の自治体の参考になるかは、公式レポートを待つ必要がある。
FAQ
Are the Tempe Sports Complex pickleball courts paid?
No, they're free. First-come, first-served free play is the basis, and anyone can use them except during city-hosted class or program times. Compared with monthly-membership private facilities (typically over $100 a month), there is a big cost advantage.
Why does the government invest in pickleball courts?
In Tempe's case, adding pickleball courts came up as the most in-demand facility-improvement item in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan's resident survey. The budget is allocated in a way that answers residents' needs with data. It's part of a program that invests more than $60 million in park infrastructure over five years.
Are there public pickleball courts in Japan?
In Japan, dedicated public pickleball courts are still few, and many amount to shared or repurposed gyms and tennis courts. However, the JPA (Japan Pickleball Association) and local chapters are lobbying municipalities, and moves to develop dedicated courts are expected to accelerate going forward.
