About Us

Celebrating 10 Years of Pickleball in Walnut Creek

Group of people gathered around a tennis court, with two men cutting a ribbon decorated with colorful balloons at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

2025 marks the 10th anniversary of our beloved Rudgear Park pickleball courts—the very first dedicated public pickleball courts in Northern California!

The story of Walnut Creek Pickleball Club (WCPC) is one of passion, perseverance, and people power. It began with a simple need: a place to play. As the sport grew, so did our community—and the determination to secure public courts for everyone to enjoy.

A group of people gathered around a tennis court, wearing colorful athletic clothing, listening to a person speaking in the center.

The Early Days

Back in 2009, local pickleball legend Bill Dougherty kickstarted public play in the East Bay. He got permission to use the Tice Gymnasium, laying down painter’s tape for makeshift courts. Every night, the tape had to be removed and reused the next day. Still, the turnout kept growing.

Bill also founded the Rossmoor Pickleball Club that same year, and soon more people joined the movement—playing at the former Rossmoor Fitness Center and Tice Gym.

But players wanted more—especially outdoor courts.

A person playing pickleball on an outdoor court, holding a black paddle, a yellow pickleball, and a black electronic scorekeeper with a red button.

The Fight for Outdoor Courts

In 2012, former Walnut Creek Mayor Dick Hildebrand, and other dedicated players surveyed every park and tennis court in the city. Eventually, they found an unused tennis court at Rudgear Park on Dapplegray Lane. With taped lines and borrowed nets, the first outdoor games began.

Getting city approval, however, wasn’t easy. Dick recalls, “We lobbied everyone—the city council, parks department, PROS Commission. The city didn’t make it easy. We had to fight for every inch.”

A bright yellow pickleball with holes, labeled with 'S+B', resting on a tennis court with blue and green surfaces separated by white boundary lines.

Progress and Big Wins

In 2013, the city finally allowed painted pickleball lines on one tennis court at Rudgear Park—but only if players paid to rent it. Despite the setback, the community celebrated the small win.

By 2014, the Walnut Creek Pickleball Club was officially formed, with Dick Hildebrand as its first president. That same year, pickleball made its debut in the Bay Area Senior Games at Tice Gym—organized by our own club members. City council members even handed out medals!

Empty tennis court with net casting shadow on the green surface, surrounded by green fencing.

Building the First Permanent Courts

The big breakthrough came in 2015, when—after years of advocacy—four dedicated public courts were constructed at Rudgear Park. Players came from across the Bay Area to play on these historic courts. WCPC covered half the cost ($8,000), showing once again our commitment to public access.

While the initial courts had issues (wrong post placement, slick surfaces), the club stepped up again—helping fund a complete resurfacing in 2016.

Four people on a tennis court wear colorful sports outfits, holding paddles and engaging in a friendly game, with a bright blue sky and trees in the background.

Our Legacy

Thanks to the dedication of our founding members, Walnut Creek is now home to one of the most vibrant pickleball communities in California. The Rudgear Park courts are more than just a place to play—they represent years of advocacy, volunteerism, and civic pride.

If you’re thinking about joining our club, know this: your membership isn’t just access to great courts—it’s a connection to a passionate community that helped make public pickleball possible.