College School District hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday morning at Santa Ynez Elementary School to celebrate the opening of new tennis and pickleball courts for student and community use.

The project refurbished two existing tennis courts on the campus at 3325 Pine St., converting one into four pickleball courts and resurfacing the other for continued use as a full-size tennis court.

Funding came from the Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation Grant and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. Superintendent Maurene Donner said the district turned to community support after bond measures failed.

“We are just so grateful for the local partnerships that made this happen,” Donner told Noozhawk, adding that the new courts promote wellness and help get students outside and moving.

Pickleball, a paddle sport often described as a smaller, slower-paced version of tennis, is typically played in singles or doubles. Converting one tennis court into four pickleball courts allows up to 16 people to play at once, compared with a maximum of four on the original court.

The courts will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis outside of school hours, including after school and on weekends. During the school day, they will primarily serve students through physical education classes and other activities.

Benches are being assembled and will be installed along the sidelines to provide seating for players and spectators.

“When fall starts, of course, the school has first priority,” Donner said, “but we definitely want the community to be able to utilize the courts after school and on the weekends.”

Donner said Greg Blessing, the school’s physical education teacher and athletic director, hopes the new courts will help spark interest in adding pickleball as a competitive sport at the middle school level. While the sport isn’t currently offered, Donner expects more schools could take an interest if additional courts become available in nearby areas such as Solvang and Buellton.

The 2025-26 College School District academic school year is scheduled to run from Aug. 15 to June 5.