City to implement $20 an hour fee for online pickleball reservations at Lithia and Hunter Parks
By Damian Mann, for Ashland.news
An ongoing verbal volley over pickleball again played out at a meeting with city officials and residents on Tuesday, July 15, at Garfield Park as Ashland’s Parks & Recreation Department implements a $20-per-hour fee to reserve pickleball courts online at Lithia Hunter Parks.
Rocky Houston, director of Ashland Parks & Recreation, said the lone pickleball court at Lithia Park has primarily been available on a first-come, first-served basis. In the fall, he said the court at Lithia Park and another at Hunter Park would be available for online reservations.
Houston said he hoped implementing the online reservation system would help alleviate concerns about availability and address complaints.
During a Coffee & Conversation, a monthly meeting Ashland officials host to meet with the community May through October this year, Houston announced that the department would be implementing the fee.
Corrie Frank, a regular pickleballer, said charging people $20 an hour would tie up the city’s lone existing court at Lithia Park.
Frank, who was initially supportive of a plan to charge a fee to use the courts in hopes that it would spur the development of more courts, said Ashland already has a limited number of courts. Charging people to play would lead to a bad outcome instead of a positive one.
Meanwhile, Ashland City Councilor Bob Kaplan said he was unaware of a plan to charge $20 an hour to use the courts.
Houston said the city has long charged $20 an hour to reserve a pickleball court. He also added that the courts would still be available on a first-come, first-served basis for those who don’t make reservations online.
Nonetheless, Kaplan said charging an hourly fee for pickleball is a business item that should be discussed in a commission before being implemented.
Frank pointed out that at Rogue X, an indoor recreation facility in Medford, which is operated by the city of Medford, is much less expensive.
According to the Rogue X website, the drop-in fee is $5 for Medford residents and $6 for non-residents. The drop-in fee covers multiple hours, depending on the day of the week and facility schedule.
Frank, who has long been lobbying the city to provide more pickleball courts, said she and other players have offered to write grants for the city to provide more courts. She said the city has yet to select a site for them.
Currently, pickleball can only be played at Lithia Park. Frank has suggested putting in a court at Hunter Park, which is on Homes Avenue in Ashland.
Houston said the parks and recreation department is looking to make two pickleball courts available at Lithia Park for online reservations by August.
Other topics, including a paving project and helping those who struggle with homelessness, were discussed.
Electric bicycles
City officials were asked during the informal session on Tuesday if they are considering a speed limit for electric bikes within city limits.
Councilor Gina DuQuenne said the city is looking at regulating electric bikes, including setting a maximum speed limit and requiring liability insurance.
“I’m looking forward to making that happen,” she said. “E-bikes need to be regulated in the worst way because that’s an accident waiting to happen.”
Paving plaudits
A resident complimented city officials on the paving of Glenview Drive above Lithia Park.
“It’s no longer dusty,” he said. “I would suggest they finish the top of Glenview down to Granite.”
According to the city’s website, Glenview is being paved from Fork Street to Granite Street.
DuQuenne said she was surprised to hear somebody not complaining about a paving project since it disrupts access into neighborhoods.
“You’re like the first person to say, ‘Yay,’” she said.
DuQuenne said road projects typically are done in sections.
Outreach worker recognized
Deputy City Manager Jordan Rooklyn praised James Bride, bilingual outreach coordinator for OHRA (Opportunities for Housing, Resources, & Assistance Inc.), for his efforts to help the homeless.
“A big shout out to James for stepping up to the plate,” she said.
Bride has helped provide resources to the homeless at the dusk-to-dawn sleeping area, also known as the night lawn, behind the Ashland Civic Center at 1175 East Main St.
Bride also helped coordinate a locker storage area so the homeless have a place to store their belongings.
“It’s about the size of a parking space,” Bride said. “It’s nice to be able to have more resources to try and improve conditions.”
Councilor Kaplan said Bride has been able to develop relationships and connect people to services at the resource center at OHRA.
“Maybe somebody doesn’t have an ID, and the resource center can help with that,” he said.
Bride said dinners aren’t provided at the night lawn, but a breakfast is available. Some snacks and other non-perishable items are available in the evening.
The next Coffee & Conversation gathering is set for 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Hunter Park.
Reach freelance reporter Damian Mann at [email protected].
Related article:
Latest ‘Coffee & Conversation’ event stirs up a lively exchange (June 19, 2025)
July 27: Story updated to reflect that the $20 fee for pickleball is for online reservations. Pickleball will still be available on a first come, first served basis when courts are not being reserved, according to Ashland officials.
