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Palo Alto takes its racquet sports seriously. The city has public tennis courts in parks and at community centers from College Terrace to south Palo Alto, plus a club that has played here for decades. Over the past several years pickleball has grown so fast that the two sports now compete for the same asphalt and court time has become a regular topic at city meetings.
This guide explains how the city's courts work, where to find them, how the pickleball boom changed Mitchell Park and which clubs to join. Court rules and the pickleball plan are still evolving, so check the city's pages for the latest before you rely on any detail.
How city courts work
The City of Palo Alto's Community Services Department brokers all city athletic fields and tennis courts. Its reservation page says tennis courts can be reserved only by the Palo Alto Tennis Club, Palo Alto-based schools and for USTA tournament and match use. Everyone else plays on the courts as individuals under the rules posted at each site.
In practice that means there is no app where a visitor can book a court for Saturday at 10. You show up, check the posted rules and wait your turn if the courts are full. Courts reserved for a school team or a club event will have signs or simply be in use by a group, so it pays to have a second park in mind.
Etiquette fills the gaps that rules do not. Common customs at busy courts include:
- Wait outside the fence and do not walk behind a court during a point.
- When others are waiting, finish your set or your time block and rotate off.
- Bring your own balls and water. Most park courts have no pro shop or vending.
- Keep pickleball and tennis to the courts marked for them and follow any priority signs on shared courts.
Where to play tennis
Mitchell Park
Mitchell Park in south Palo Alto is the busiest racquet site in the city. As of 2026 it has four tennis courts, described in local reporting as the only lighted tennis courts in south Palo Alto. The same complex holds the city's main pickleball courts, the Magical Bridge Playground, a dog park and the library next door, so parking can be tight on weekend mornings.
Rinconada Park
Rinconada Park at 777 Embarcadero Road has public tennis courts on the Hopkins Avenue side, with a covered pavilion used by the Palo Alto Tennis Club. It is the most convenient public tennis for anyone staying downtown or in Crescent Park.
Cubberley and the neighborhood parks
The Cubberley Community Center on Middlefield Road has tennis courts that came up in the 2026 debate, when pickleball players offered to pay for lights there. Smaller neighborhood parks have a court or two. In College Terrace, for example, Weisshaar Park has two tennis courts. The city's parks map lists amenities park by park and is the best way to find the nearest court.
Private clubs
Some neighborhoods have membership swim and tennis clubs. The Eichler Swim and Tennis Club in Palo Verde is one example. These are open to members only.
How pickleball took over Mitchell Park
Pickleball's rise in Palo Alto has played out almost entirely at Mitchell Park. Here is the short version, drawn from city meetings and local news coverage.
- 2018. The city striped three tennis courts at Mitchell Park for temporary pickleball use.
- April 2019. After tennis players objected to losing three courts, the Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously backed a compromise. One tennis court would become four dedicated pickleball courts, two new pickleball courts would be added and two tennis courts would be shared. The Palo Alto Pickleball Club had about 400 members at the time.
- 2019 to 2025. The city added courts, put lights over the pickleball courts and adopted a policy giving pickleball priority on shared courts. By 2025 there were eight dedicated pickleball courts and seven dual-use courts.
- August 2025. The club, by then about 1,000 members strong, proposed converting two of the four remaining tennis courts into eight more pickleball courts and offered to pay roughly $150,000. The commission heard the idea but made no formal recommendation.
- May 2026. The commission took up the proposal again. City staff had visited 68 times since the previous August and found the pickleball courts consistently over capacity, with groups of 5 to 60 players waiting at peak times. Tennis courts elsewhere in the city were generally free when Mitchell Park was full. Staff recommended keeping the Mitchell Park courts as they are and ideas such as a pickleball site near the Baylands Athletic Center were floated for the longer term.
The Palo Alto Tennis Club opposed the conversion and the Magical Bridge Foundation raised concerns about noise next to the playground. We could not confirm a final council decision, so check the city's Parks and Recreation Commission agendas for the latest. The practical upshot for players is simple. If you want pickleball without a long wait, go early on weekdays.
Pickleball open play tips
Busy pickleball sites run on an open-play system that newcomers sometimes find confusing. Players usually queue by stacking paddles in a rack or slot and the next four paddles take the next free court. Games are short, so the line moves fast even when it looks long. Mixed levels often share the courts. Ask someone near the paddle rack how it works that day. Regulars are generally happy to explain.
Bring a paddle and outdoor balls. Courts are hard surface and the afternoon sun is strong in summer, so a hat and water help. Evening play is possible on the lighted courts, but the city has tried to balance late games with neighbors and the playground next door, so respect posted closing times.
Clubs and leagues
- Palo Alto Tennis Club. The long-standing club that holds reservation rights on city courts and uses the pavilion at Rinconada Park. Check the club directly for membership and current programs.
- Palo Alto Pickleball Club. A large volunteer club with about 1,000 members in 2025, roughly 58 percent of them Palo Alto residents. It organizes play and has led the push for more courts.
- USTA leagues. Adult league teams play matches on city courts under the reservation rules. The USTA Northern California section runs the leagues.
Teens can find school and youth programs through the city's recreation classes. Our page on things to do with teens has more ideas.
Stanford courts
Stanford has excellent tennis facilities, but they are not public. The university's recreation department says its tennis and pickleball courts are restricted to members of the Stanford community with active memberships, such as students, faculty, staff, postdocs and alumni or hospital members who hold recreation memberships. Non-affiliates can play only by invitation from an active member, who must be on the court with them. Guests cannot make reservations. You can still watch the varsity teams at home matches. Our Stanford athletics guide explains how to find the schedule.
Gear, stringing and tips
Tennis Town and Country at Town and Country Village sells racquets, strings, shoes and apparel for tennis and pickleball. See our Town and Country Village guide for the rest of the center. For a full list of parks and preserves to pair with a morning match, browse our outdoors hub.
Good to know
- City court rules and pickleball priority policies are posted at each site. Read the signs first.
- Parking at Mitchell Park fills on weekend mornings. Bike if you can.
- Summer afternoons are hot on the courts. Early mornings and evenings are the best times to play.
- For field and court reservation questions, use the city's reservations page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reserve a public tennis court in Palo Alto?
Generally no. The city says its tennis courts can be reserved only by the Palo Alto Tennis Club, Palo Alto-based schools and for USTA tournament and match play. Other players use the courts for individual play under the rules posted at each site.
Where can I play pickleball in Palo Alto?
Mitchell Park at 600 East Meadow Drive is the main public pickleball site. By 2025 the city reported eight dedicated pickleball courts and seven courts shared with tennis, with pickleball given priority on the shared courts. Expect waits at peak times.
Is there a pickleball club in Palo Alto?
Yes. The Palo Alto Pickleball Club had about 1,000 members in 2025, according to local reporting and has pushed for more courts. Joining is a good way to find regular games and learn the open-play customs at Mitchell Park.
Can the public use Stanford's tennis courts?
No. Stanford's recreation department restricts its tennis and pickleball courts to members of the Stanford community with active memberships. Outsiders may play only when invited by an active member, who must be on the court with them.
Are Palo Alto tennis courts lit at night?
Some are. The four tennis courts left at Mitchell Park were described in 2026 as the only lighted tennis courts in south Palo Alto. The city also added lights over pickleball courts there. Lighting at other parks varies, so check before planning a night game.