Demuth Park’s long-awaited pickleball expansion opens in Palm Springs, nearly doubling court capacity

An estimated 300 residents, local players, and regional champions gathered at Demuth Park on Wednesday as Palm Springs officially opened its new 22-court pickleball complex, turning a long-awaited municipal project into a vibrant community homecoming.

The courtyard and sidelines buzzed with long-overdue catch-ups, impromptu hugs, and high-fives as neighbors, regular doubles partners, and local rivals gathered freebies and scouted the new pavement together before taking the courts.

The crowd included casual recreational players alongside the Coachella Valley Scorpions, champions of the National Pickleball League, who showcased the facility’s potential during an exhibition match. City staff distributed more than 200 giveaway items, emptying boxes almost as fast as attendees arrived.

The $5.1 million project, funded in part by $2 million in Measure J tax revenues, completely replaces the park’s former 12-court setup, which had struggled to handle year-round demand. Construction began in October 2025 after two years of delay and involved removing the older courts, an adjacent tennis court, picnic areas, and surrounding park space to make room for a unified design.

In addition to the expanded playing surface, the new facility features sports lighting, shade structures outside the courts, spectator seating, drinking fountains, planters, accessible pathways, and dedicated restrooms.

“We’re excited about this project,” Councilmember Grace Garner said. “Because pickleball is a sport that everyone can play, every age, every ability level, and this is a space where you can be outside, you can enjoy, you can connect with people of all different walks of life. This is really going to be a space that I know the community is going to use every single day.”

City Manager Scott Stiles noted that the expanded footprint comes at an ideal moment for local players anticipating the busier fall and winter months.

“It’s a very exciting day for the city of Palm Springs, and especially for our pickleball community, who have been looking forward to this day for a long, long time,” Stiles said. “The wait is finally over!”

The celebration also featured a rare public comment from City Engineer Joel Montalvo, “Typically, I don’t ask to speak in front of the public, but I do want to recognize the hard work that the engineering team does to bring these major projects forward to you guys,” Montalvo said.

To accommodate varying abilities, courts are grouped into designated sections ranging from beginner to advanced. Players can self-select their skill group based on established court guidelines, and community members can check the court rules before playing.

Free public access and timed bookings are managed through the city’s online reservation system, with Parks and Recreation staff available to assist anyone needing help with online scheduling.

Parks and Recreation Director Nicholas Gonzalez emphasized that Wednesday’s ribbon cutting represents the start of a broader expansion for recreation in the city, with new programs, events, and tournaments on the horizon.

“These courts are for you, and we cannot wait to see them fill with great games, new friendships, and lots of community spirit,” Gonzalez said.

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