Two brand-new covered pickleball courts are ready for play at San Antonio's Northeast Senior Center, and the city scheduled a ribbon-cutting and an inaugural game for Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. The celebration was set for 3 to 4 p.m. at the center, located at 4135 Thousand Oaks, capping off an $850,000 project built specifically with the city's older adult population in mind.
According to WOAI News 4, the grand opening celebration was scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, from 3 to 4 p.m. at the senior center. City leaders planned to mark the moment with a ribbon-cutting and inaugural game, giving the center's regular players a chance to break in the new courts in front of local officials.
The project itself goes well beyond a pair of courts. It includes a water fountain, outdoor furniture, two bench canopies, walking trails, irrigation, landscaping and lighting, all designed to make the space usable and comfortable for the center's senior visitors throughout the day.
Councilmember Whyte Led the $850,000 Push
District 10 Councilmember Marc Whyte led the project, which was funded through non-bond District 10 Infrastructure Funds rather than a citywide bond package. The total cost came in at $850,000, covering both the covered courts and the surrounding amenities.
Whyte was expected to attend Monday's grand opening, alongside Jessica Dovalina, deputy director of the city's Department of Human Services, and Crystal Gonzales, assistant director of the Capital Delivery Department. Pickleball athletes from the Northeast Senior Center were also expected to turn out for the inaugural game.
One of 12 Centers Serving San Antonio Seniors
The Northeast Senior Center is one of 12 comprehensive senior centers managed by the city's Department of Human Services, according to the same report. The facility sits at 4135 Thousand Oaks Dr. in San Antonio, within the 78217 ZIP code.
Beyond pickleball, the center's programs include arts and crafts, basic health screenings, exercise classes, field trips, recreation and dance, and technology classes. Senior centers across the city are open year-round, operating Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Riding a National Pickleball Boom
The city has pointed to adults older than 60 as among the leading demographics playing pickleball, and the Northeast Senior Center's new courts fit into a much larger surge in the sport's popularity. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025, up from roughly 4.2 million players in 2020 — a jump the organization has called the fastest growth of any sport in the country over the past three years, with participation rising 171.8% from 2022 to 2025 alone.
San Antonio has already been adding courts to keep pace. In 2024, the city announced a $400,000 project to build two covered pickleball courts at the Walker Ranch Senior Center, a build that was set to begin in early August 2024 and affect 26,500 square feet of space, according to Community Impact. That project also folded in concrete walkways, a drinking fountain, furniture and lighting, mirroring the amenities now in place at the Northeast Senior Center. Nationally, USA Pickleball has reported more than 11,800 public spots that now accommodate the sport, with league and program membership topping 78,700 participants in 2023.
