SF offering more affordable pickleball, tennis lessons

The city's parks department is bringing affordable pickleball and tennis lessons to residents.

Why it matters: Private lessons can often be costly, according to the parks department, and the program aims to make high-quality lessons more accessible to the masses.

The big picture: Pickleball has grown in popularity in the city, but not without ruffling a few feathers.

• The associated noise has upset residents who live near pickleball courts. Tennis and pickleball players have also been at odds over court availability .

Driving the news: The pilot program , which launched this week, is available to players of all levels in either one-on-one or small group lessons.

• Currently, there are 40 instructors at a variety of San Francisco parks, including Presidio Wall, Glen Canyon Park, Crocker Amazon, Minnie & Lovie Ward, and others.
• Group sessions are limited to three players on a court for tennis and four for pickleball.

What they're saying: "The goal is maximizing play for everyone, while allowing players a convenient and safe way to learn from professional instructors in their neighborhood park," SF Recreation and Parks Department general manager Phil Ginsburg said in a press release .

By the numbers: Instructors set their own hourly rates, which range from $60 an hour to $150 an hour.

• Instructors receive between 75% and 80% of the lesson fee, while 20% to 25% goes toward operating the program.

What's next: If you want to take a lesson, head over to Rec to check instructors' availability and pricing.