Places to Play/FAQ | Grand Rapids Pickleball Club

Grand Rapids Pickleball Belknap Park Court Layouts

BE INCLUSIVE!

We’ve all heard stories of how hard it is to mix into play at an “exclusive club.” Translation: They are not welcoming others or letting waiting players join into games even when their paddles are in the paddle racks. It is up to us as club members to make sure the Grand Rapids Pickleball Club has an outstanding reputation in the pickleball world. This FAQ should have all the information needed to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere at Belknap Park. If you have questions or suggestions, please Contact Us. Also, don’t forget to bookmark our amazing calendar, a resource that includes dates of events, sign-up links, and much more. It can be sorted by day, month, and even list format.

belknap pickleball grand rapids court map

Playing at Belknap Park FAQs

There are 21 designated courts at Belknap Park, 30 Coldbrook NE.

Do you need to be a member of the GRPC to play at Belknap?

You do not need to be a member of the GRPC to play at Belknap but membership is encouraged. See Membership Benefits below.

What are the court guidelines for playing at Belknap?

There are some basic rules for play between 9-12 am. and 4-10 pm.:

Courts 1-2: Open play, all levels, all the time. 2 on/2 off. Winners split.

Courts 3-5: Advanced open play. 4.0+ tournament players and above. 2 on/2 of. Winners split.

Court 6: Advanced Challenge Court. 4.0+ tournament players and above. Get in line as a team of 2. Winners stay.

Courts 7-10: Beginner/Recreational/Social open play. 2 on/2 off. Winners split.

Courts 12 -15: Intermediate open play. 2 on/2 off. Winners split.

Court 11: Intermediate Challenge Court. Get in line as a team of 2. Winners stay.

Courts 16-21: 4 on/4 off. Get in line as a group of 4 for the next available court.

As a Board, we believe it’s a good blend that will fill the needs of most players. We also believe that it is up to us, as club members, to ensure the Grand Rapids Pickleball Club has an outstanding reputation in the pickleball world.

On all courts except Challenge Courts, the Open Play guidelines are that winners split and play three games max before coming off the court. If it is extremely busy, winners and losers should come off the courts. Please use common courtesy. Everyone wants to play.

If you want to play on the same court again, put your paddle in the paddle rack and wait your turn. At no time should it be heard “Our foursome is going to play again” when people are waiting to play.

If you have a group of people you want to play with, go to courts 16-21. If all six courts are in use you must use the paddle rack at Court 17 to get in line for the next court as a complete foursome. When players are waiting, foursomes rotate off after a game and put their paddles in the rack for the next available court.

Our calendar will show what events are happening at Belknap and how many courts are reserved for those events. View here before you go.

What is “open play”?

Open play means that you can go up to a court and expect to play in the next open game. Players put their paddles in the paddle rack on the court fence and get into games. Players that are on the court cannot tell the waiting players that they have a closed group and cannot play there. We have special courts numbered for that purpose.

In nearly every case, open play is from 9 a.m.-noon and 4 p.m to 10 p.m. When a game ends, if players are in line, two players leave the court. Winners split up and two new players join the court.

Each court should have signs indicating rules for rotating onto that court.

Does the GRPC give lessons?

During the summer the GRPC offers a one-time class for the first-time player that requires signing up. This class gives you a good introduction and teaches the very basics. You can sign up for a class on our website, grpickleball.com. If you would like to have private lessons here is a list of instructors that have asked us to post their information on our website. https://grpickleball.com/home/club-info/classes/

Are balls and paddles provided at Belknap?

No, you must arrive with your own equipment. The outdoor ball most often used at Belknap is the Franklin X-40. Paddles can be purchased through a store, online, or through a vendor.

What is Friday Night Lights and how do I sign up?

FNL is a round-robin evening tournament for GRPC members only. FNL events are popular and the limited spots fill up quickly. Watch for an announcement on the GRPC Facebook a week before the sign-up is released to members. Once it is released, the SignupGenius link will be posted there. Please note, for FNL, one person signs up and pays for themselves and their teammate. Our calendar will show the dates for FNL and the many other cool events, tournaments, and more, that are happening at Belknap.

I heard about Ladies' mornings at Belknap. What is it and can any female play?

Ladies’ play at Belknap is open to all adult female GRPC members on most Thursdays, from 9-11 am, May through September. No sign-up is required, just show up ready to play. You can view which Thursdays are scheduled on the GRPC website’s calendar.

Watch the GRPC Facebook page for announcements about weather cancellations. You must know how to play and how to keep score to participate.

What is the Men’s Legacy Group?

During the summer a men’s legacy group plays on Tuesday mornings. It is open to any male member over 70 years old. Please refer to the GRPC calendar for times and court numbers.

Why should I sign up for a GRPC membership when I can play for free at Belknap Park?

A membership to the GRPC supports pickleball in and around Kent County. There are well over 100 dedicated outdoor courts in the county and more are being developed. Very few would be here without the promotion and support of the pickleball club.

Membership also provides a sense of ownership and community for the club and everything we have accomplished at Belknap Park. 90 percent (or more) of what you see at Belknap has been purchased and implemented by the club. The 21 designated pickleball courts, fencing, lighting, electricity, maintenance, nets, windscreens, bleachers, signage, cameras, etc. are all managed by the club. The city of Grand Rapids owns the land but we are the caretakers and developers. Membership doesn’t come close to covering the cost of everything we have implemented at the park but it does help.

The club holds membership-only events at Belknap such as Friday Night Lights in the summer, the club Championship, First Timer Tournaments, a couple of ladder leagues, and drilling clinics. There is a men’s and women’s legacy group on Tuesday mornings and ladies play on Thursday mornings during the summer months. Our calendar has all the details.

The GRPC also runs several larger tournaments, not specifically for members, but we certainly wouldn’t have them without the leadership and volunteers from the club.

How many courts are at Belknap Park?

There are 21 designated courts at Belknap, 30 Coldbrook NE in Grand Rapids.

What is the Ladies Legacy Group?

During the summer a ladies’ legacy group plays on Tuesday morning. It is open to any female GRPC member over 70 years old. Please refer to the GRPC calendar for times and court numbers.

Other Places To Play

This list is maintained by the help of our members, and venues may change their hours without informing us. Please always check directly with the venue to confirm their pickleball hours and availability. Have an update? Use our contact form.

Also, this helpful Google Map is maintained by the West Michigan Pickleball Group on Facebook and can help you narrow down where you’d like to play based on where you live.

Outdoor

BELKNAP PARK - OUR HOME COURT

30 Coldbrook Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Next to the Grand Rapids Griff’s Ice House.

MONDAY-SUNDAY

There are some basic rules for play between 9-12 a.m. and 5-8 p.m.:

Courts 1-2: Open play, all levels, all the time. 2 on/2 off. Winners split.

Courts 3-5: Advanced open play. 2 on/2 off. Winners split. 4.0+ tournament players and above.

Court 6: Advanced Challenge Court. Get in line as a team. Winners stay.

Courts 7-10: Beginner/Recreational/Social open play. 2 on/2 off. Winners split.

Courts 11, 13-15: Intermediate open play. 2 on/2 off. Winners split.

Court 12: Challenge Court. Winners stay.

Courts 16-21: 4 on/4 off. Get in line as a group of 4 for the next available court. One game only, then get in line for next available court. Private games are OK, holding a court is not.

WALKWAYS AND GATES
Every court can be accessed from the dark gray painted walkways. Please do not cross a court in use for any reason other than an emergency.

REMINDER
There is Ladies Play every Thursday morning from 9:00 am to 11:00 am on courts 7-21.
Legacy Men’s group plays every Tuesday morning from 8-10 am on courts 16-21.

ADA PARK

1180 Buttrick Ave SE, Ada

BYRON CENTER

8191 Byron Center Ave., SW, Byron Center
616-878-1998

No set timeframes

CASCADE TOWNSHIP PARK

3810 Thornapple River Dr. SE, Grand Rapids

COURTLAND TOWNSHIP

7450 14 Mile Road NE, Rockford, 49341

8 courts, no lights

CUTLER PARK

6701 Cutler Park Drive, SW, Grand Rapids

No set timeframes

HUDSONVILLE

12 outdoor courts

Chicago Dr. and School St.

MVP ATHLETIC CLUB

115 Crahen Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
616-575-8650

There are 8 permanent lined outdoor pickleball courts on the farthest tier of 4 tennis courts. The outdoor courts are free for members to reserve.

OLD FARM PARK

2350 Embro Dr. SE, Kentwood

Four outdoor courts. North off of 52nd and Stauffeur. Turn right on Embro, courts at end of street at the top of the hill.

Thursdays 6 p.m. Level 3.5 or higher

YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PARK

1659 – 1705 Parker Drive, Wayland

Two outdoor courts. Exit 61 on 131. Go 7 miles east, past Patterson. South on Parker.

Scheduled Open Play: M, W, TH, F, and SAT, 7:30 -9 a.m. Unscheduled Open Play every day 6:30 p.m.-dusk. All skills and ages welcome.

If you are a newbie player, please take the free Introduction to Pickleball Class first with Phyllis Wordhouse. RSVP for the class by email: wordhouse777@gmail.com. 4 students max per clas