Ocean City Council Considers Fees For Pickleball

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City Council approved a proposed ordinance on introduction setting the fees to play pickleball at its meeting on Thursday night, June 8.

The daily fee will be $5, while weekly passes will be $15. An annual pass will be available for $50. The fees have upset some in the tennis community, where it costs $8 an hour for court rental.

“I play four times a week, and it can cost me up to $300,” resident Ed Manning told council during the public portion of the meeting. “There’s some inequity there.”

Ocean City Director of Community Services Michael Allegretto said the city was trying to be consistent with all the other communities that have pickleball when determining fees. He also said they can’t charge per court because of the differences in the way the two sports are played.

“In pickleball, they’re moving around and they can’t stay on one court.” Allegretto said. “In tennis, you stay on one court.”

As opposed to court rentals, pickleball players pay for the day, but have to wait for room to become available. Allegretto compared it to a game of pickup basketball, where the winner will stay and challengers rotate in and out.

“I’ve watched it in other towns, and they’re fair with each other,” said Councilman Keith Hartzell, who agreed there is a dramatic difference in the way the two sports are played.

Business Administrator Jim Mallon acknowledged pickleball was a new sport for the city, and it work would continue in all areas.

For the summer, pickleball will be played on six outdoor courts at the Intermediate School on 18th and Haven. There are also three tennis courts in use at the same location. Tennis courts are also available at 6th Street and Atlantic Avenue and 35th and West Avenue.

The public hearing and final vote on the proposed ordinance is scheduled for June 22.

Patch file photo