Robert M. Krughoff Pickleball Center
Five free public courts under the freeway, where open play means no one owns a court and everyone gets a game.
Our role
We helped raise the money to build the Center, and now we manage, operate and program it.
Open play on a summer afternoon. Photo: Navy Yard BID
Status
Open since July 2026
Where
100 block of Virginia Ave SE
Hours
Daily, dawn to dusk
Cost
Free: no sign-up, no fee
5
free public courts, with semi-permanent nets
Source: Krughoff Center
2018
the year players painted the first lines on an abandoned road
Source: Krughoff Center history
3 years
to secure a public space permit from the District Department of Transportation
Source: Krughoff Center history
$121,458
raised from community donors
Source: Foundation records
Before and after
From an abandoned roadway to five courts
Before: the original roadway
Players on the bare asphalt, before construction began.
After: five courts, 2026
Resurfaced, lined and netted, all paid for by community fundraising.
Milestones
Built by neighbors, one step at a time
The Center is named in memory of Robert M. Krughoff, whose vision started it all. Volunteers made it real.
- July 2018Mostly Capitol Hill seniors, led by Robert Krughoff and Margaret Crenshaw, start playing on an abandoned dead-end road south of Garfield Park. Volunteers haul debris, patch asphalt and paint lines.
- 2023A stakeholder group forms: the Navy Yard BID, players, Councilmember Allen's staff, ANC commissioners, Capitol Hill Village and Friends and Neighbors of Garfield Park.
- 2023 to 2026Three years of work secure a public space permit from the District Department of Transportation.
- Spring 2026Alongside the Garfield Connector project, five courts are built – resurfacing, lines, nets, barriers and a storage container – all paid for by community fundraising.
- July 2026The courts open for free open play, with paid site managers and volunteer court ambassadors.
- Fall 2026A mural for the courts, honoring Robert Krughoff.
- 2027A court reservation and permitting process begins.
“Winning is wonderful. Belonging is better.”
The Krughoff Center's motto. Other courts ask “Who stays on?” This one asks “Who hasn't had a chance to play?”
Partners and funders
Built with community money, for community play
Funders
- Capitol Hill Community Foundation
- Consumers' Checkbook
- Doug and Mei Smith Fund
- Many other individual donors
Partners
- District Department of Transportation (public space permit)
- Friends and Neighbors of Garfield Park
- Capitol Hill Village
- Navy Yard BID
- ANC commissioners and Councilmember Allen's office
How to help
Every court here is free to play because donors keep it that way
Support the courts
Gifts help fund court operations, maintenance and improvements, so play stays free.
Become a court ambassador
Ambassadors help set up the courts and introduce new players to the court rules and etiquette, especially when no site manager is on duty. Think host, not referee.
On the courts
Playing here: just show up with a paddle
- Open play: four-on, four-off rotation across all five courts. No challenge courts.
- Paddle stacking: when courts are full, stack your paddle. Each group of four plays next.
- Games: to 11, win by 2, USA Pickleball rules. No referees.
- Busiest times: about 9 am to noon and 5 to 8 pm.
- Needs a special use permit: paid lessons, leagues and round-robins, tournaments, private or corporate events, and commercial filming. Court reservations start in 2027.
- Join the players: the "Garfield Pickleball" group on TeamReach (code GPPB) and @krughoffpickleball on Instagram.
- Getting there: the Garfield Connector's accessible ramp links the courts to Garfield Park.