The City of Pleasanton is home to a variety of remarkable sporting facilities and ample opportunities to play adult sports. To name only a few, the Ken Mercer Sports Park features more than 100 acres of green space and playing fields that can be configured in up to 12 soccer fields, four adult softball fields, and 21 additional baseball and Little League diamonds. The top-class Dolores Bengtson Aquatic Center, which meets accessibility guidelines, offers a 50-meter Olympic-size pool, a 25-meter lap pool with attached diving well and two 1-meter diving boards, and a shallow pool. All pools are heated to 80 degrees all year. The beautiful Callippe Preserve Golf Course was created with a layout that "encourages strategic course management and creative shot making from tee to green," according to the course's designer. Fans of basketball, tennis, and other sports will find a great place to play within Pleasanton.
Adult sport programs are sponsored by the City of Pleasanton Library and Recreation Department, which offers a variety of leagues and opportunities to play. All adult leagues are team based. Adult basketball, adult softball, and a program called Open Gym for basketball and volleyball require online accounts. For up to date information about league standings, game schedules, and to sign up as a free agent, please visit www.teamsideline.com/pleasanton.
Harvest Park Middle School Gym at 4900 Valley Avenue or Thomas Hart Middle School Gym in Hacienda at 4433 Willow Road, www.teamsideline.com/sites/pleasanton/content/282/Adult-Basketball
Adult basketball offers two levels of play, Novice and Intermediate. Teams are recommended to have 6 to 10 players per roster. Games are played on Wednesday and Thursday nights depending on the season.
Open Gym BasketballThomas Hart Middle School Gym in Hacienda at 4433 Willow Road, www.teamsideline.com/sites/pleasanton/content/23620/Open-Gym-Info
Open Gym basketball is held on Wednesday nights from 8 to 10 pm. Online reservations are required to reserve your space. Officials say the Open Gym program is a fun way to gather friends for informal games of pick-up and meet others in the community.
Pleasanton Middle School Gym at 5001 Case Avenue, www.teamsideline.com/sites/pleasanton/content/23620/Open-Gym-Info
Open Gym Volleyball allows for pickup games and other activities that are less formal than league play. Volleyball games are currently held on Sundays from 6 to 9 pm.
Of course this is just the beginning. A wide range of additional opportunities are available. Whether you are simply interested in a great swimming experience or want to play a round of golf, Pleasanton has the best the area has to offer for your sporting interests!
Dolores Bengtson Aquatic Center, 4455 Black Avenue, www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/gov/depts/cs/aquatics
Pleasanton's premiere aquatic facility features a 50-meter Olympic-size pool, shallow pool with waterslide, recently renovated 25-meter lap pool, diving well, two 1-meter diving boards, and plenty of turf for picnics and lounging poolside. Pools are heated to 80 degrees year-round. The facility is compliant with ADA accessibility standards. It is also equipped with plenty of parking, lockers for swimmers who bring their own locks, and shower facilities. Adult lane reservations are available on Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings. Passes to the Aquatic Center are required to use the pools.
The Tri-Valley Masters Swim Team practices year-round at the Aquatic Center. Part of the U.S. Masters Swimming organization, the group offers 20 coached workouts a week at the Aquatic Center and Las Positas College. To join, prospective members must be 18 or older and, ideally, have an interest in fitness or competitive swimming. For more information about the team, please visit https://www.teamunify.com/team/tvm/page/home.
Centennial Community Park, 5353 Sunol Boulevard, (925) 931-3449, www.lifetimeactivities.com/pleasanton
Bocce, which developed from games that originated in the Roman Empire and comes from the Italian word for bowls, involves rolling balls down a court towards a smaller, target ball. Usually played outdoors, the sport has grown in popularity in recent years thanks in part to its all-ages appeal. Pleasanton's bocce courts are located next to the Pleasanton Senior Center.
Callippe Preserve Golf Course, 8500 Clubhouse Drive, (925) 426-6666, www.playcallippe.com
Callippe Preserve, the city's municipally owned and public golf course, offers an outstanding 18-hole, par 72 sporting experience. Pleasanton's premier golf facility opened in 2005. Set in the foothills on the south edge of the city, the course makes the most of its spectacular setting. The front nine holes are routed through the valley, while the back nine sit at a higher elevation; Happy Valley Creek winds throughout the course. Facilities include a driving range and a clubhouse with a pro shop and restaurant. Lessons for both adults and juniors are available.
Ken Mercer Sports Park, 5800 Parkside Drive, (925) 931-3437, busc.org/pleasanton-adult-sunday-soccer-pass
The Pleasanton Adult Sunday Soccer League, or PASS League, operates three different coed leagues in the spring and fall. Matches in the 12-game season are played on Sunday mornings at 9:00 and 11:00 am. Leagues are organized by age. Minimum ages for the Coed Premier Division are 21 for women and 27 for men. The Coed Division is for women over 25 and men over 30, while the Coed Masters Division is for women over 35 and men over 40. PASS is part of the Pleasanton Ballistic United Soccer Club, which has a primary focus on youth soccer. Players can register for a team or as a free agent.
Ken Mercer Sports Park Softball Complex, 5800 Parkside Drive, (925) 931-3437, www.teamsideline.com/pleasanton
The City's Adult Softball Program is one of the largest in Northern California. Local leagues include E, D, C, Men's Masters (35 and above), Men's Legends (50 and over), and Coed Business & Recreational (Mush ball). The program is based at the Ken Mercer Sports Park Softball Complex, which features four lighted fields, scoreboards, covered dugouts, and a concession stand.
Each game is 60 minutes or seven innings long, whichever comes first. For the 2023 season, games take place on Monday through Friday on a rotation schedule of 5 pm and 6:05 pm. Officials recommend a group of 12 to 16 players for those who want to form new teams. The Sports Park staff uses the online TeamSideline tool to take team registration, publicize schedules, and team standings. Individual free agents can add themselves to the pool of available players.
Pleasanton Tennis and Community Park, 5801 Valley Ave, (925) 931-3449, www.lifetimeactivities.com/pleasanton
The Pleasanton Tennis and Community Park features 12 lighted courts, a shared pickle ball and ball machine court, online reservation system, year-round youth and adult programming, a pro shop, a rental ball machine, and a community room for rent. The facility is managed by Lifetime Activities, a private firm that manages several other sports venues and programs in the Bay Area. Court reservations can be made eight days in advance by Pleasanton residents and seven days ahead for non-residents by calling or via the online registration system.
Recreational adult leagues are offered year round for doubles play for women, men, or mixed sides. An adult singles ladder is available as well. In 2023, new adult group classes, for those aged 16 and over, begin in late August and early September. The eight-week courses are taught at four levels. Beginning classes are for newcomers to the sport; Advanced Beginning is for those with at least six months of instruction; Intermediate is for players with basic match experience who need to improve their footwork, movement, and placement of shots; and Advanced, which addresses topics such as adding pace to shots and basic tennis strategy. Private tennis lessons and competition training are also available.
For more information about adult sports sponsored by the City of Pleasanton, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/gov/depts/cs/sports/adult.asp.
For information about City of Pleasanton recreation offerings, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/gov/depts/cs/default.asp.
For information about access to City of Pleasanton sports and recreation facilities for individuals with disabilities, please email inclusionservices@cityofpleasantonca.gov.
Photo by Connor Coyne on Unsplash