Padel, a racket sport gaining popularity across the world, is coming to San Francisco this fall.
Two courts dedicated to padel — often described as a hybrid between tennis and squash — are set to open in Embarcadero Plaza in October, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced Wednesday.
Construction for the courts will begin next week. The courts, part of a one-year pop-up by Park Padel, will be the first open to the public in Northern California, according to the recreation department.
“Adding these courts to Embarcadero Plaza is just one way our public spaces are evolving to meet dynamic new interests,” said Mayor London Breed. “This exciting new recreational opportunity will only add to the vibrancy of Embarcadero Plaza for our residents and visitors to enjoy.”
Like pickleball, padel — which was created in Acapulco in 1969 — experienced a rapid rise in popularity during the pandemic. Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports across the globe, with particular recognition in Spain and Latin America, according to TennisKit24, a tennis blog.
The sport is usually played as a doubles game on an indoor court that is about a third of a size of the tennis court and is bound by glass walls.
Park Padel, which is opening the temporary court in San Francisco, is run by three friends — Jessica Talbert, Neil Chainani and Katie Lampert — who took to the sport while traveling in Spain, which boasts more than 20,000 courts.
Their plan is to open a six-court — and permanent — indoor padel facility in South San Francisco in the spring.
“With interest in racket sports at an all-time high, we are thrilled to offer the first padel courts open to the public in Northern California,” said Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg in a statement.
The two temporary padel courts in Embarcadero Plaza will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with free court time from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday if booked in advance.
Players can secure their spots at all other times through parkpadel.com or through the Park Padel mobile app. Fees are $40 per person per hour, or $28 for a monthly membership, with seniors paying $28 an hour on weekdays.
Reach Annie Vainshtein: [email protected]
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