Fairfax County is considering adding a dedicated pickleball court at Mason District Park in Annandale and is asking residents for feedback before making a decision.
The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) has opened a 30-day public comment period on the proposal, which would place the new court next to the existing tennis courts in the southwestern corner of the park.
According to the FCPA, the location at 6621 Columbia Pike meets the county’s recommended 250-foot buffer from residential properties, a requirement aimed at minimizing noise concerns. The project would also retrofit the park’s existing tennis court lights to illuminate the new court, modify a nearby trail, and relocate utility lines.
Residents can submit feedback online or mail written comments to the park authority’s public information office at:
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 925
Fairfax, VA 22035
All comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 13.
This proposal is just the latest in a series of others pitched by the park authority in recent years as pickleball’s popularity has surged. Fairfax County now has 82 pickleball courts, a 293% increase since 2021, according to a county staff presentation last year.
But not every proposal has been smooth sailing. In some cases, new courts have sparked backlash from nearby residents concerned about noise, traffic and competition for space.
Last year, FCPA decided to remove pickleball courts at Kendale Woods Park in Annandale after receiving noise complaints from homeowners who lived close to the site, prompting protests by local players.
At Wakefield Park, officials recently proposed converting a tennis court into four pickleball courts, responding to players’ requests for more dedicated spaces. That proposal is still under review.
The Mason District Park proposal aims to sidestep some of the issues that have plagued other locations by adhering to the county’s spacing guidelines. Unlike Kendale Woods, where the courts were just 47 feet from the nearest home, Mason District Park’s larger buffer should help mitigate noise concerns, according to the FCPA.
The county will review public feedback before making a final decision on whether to move forward with the project. There’s no set timeline for construction.
