Pickleball players in New Jersey fight back against proposed 275% court fee increase
Last Edited
Apr 16 2025
Category
News
In what could only be described as a win for the good guys, pickleball players in Ocean City, New Jersey, recently fought back against a proposed court fee increase that would have raised the price of a season pass by a whopping 275%.
The substantial increase was part of a larger package of rate increases for services throughout the city. The changes were up for second reading April 10 at the City Council meeting, after being approved two weeks earlier on first reading.
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After the proposal was introduced, members of the pickleball community inundated their City Council members with calls and also met with Mayor Jay Gillian to oppose the increase, according to the Ocean City Sentinel.
The cost for a 2024 season pass good for May 1 through Oct. 31 was $60.
The new fee proposed in the ordinance was $225 a year for use of the outdoor courts at 18th Street and indoor courts in the Civic Center, or $150 a year for outdoor only and $100 a year for indoor only.
After the pushback, Gillian proposed making the fees $100 a year for unlimited indoor/outdoor play, $90 a year for outdoor only and $25 for indoor only.
Multiple members of the local pickleball community showed up at the City Council meeting to speak during public comment, but did not after the mayor suggested the revision, which council members later approved on a 6-1 vote.
And there was much rejoicing in Ocean City, we're sure.
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