Hoop Heaven: The Best Basketball Courts in Pasadena
Basketball courts are scattered throughout Pasadena, and it’s tricky to decide which are worth the trip. So to save you from journeying to the countless basketball courts in the area, I visited five of the most popular public outdoor basketball courts in Pasadena and ranked them. The courts are ranked based on the following criteria: surface (based on court grip, paint job, and number of cracks), backboard and rim (how easy or hard is it to make a shot and the stability of the hoop), and environment (the location of the court and the liveliness of the basketball community present). These are all things that make up a great basketball court. Though no court is perfect, some come close. Here are my rankings!
#4 McDonald Park
Teetering on the border between Pasadena and Altadena on Mountain Street sits the grassy and spacious McDonald Park. The park is spacious and relaxing, which proves to be a decent environment for outdoor activities. The single basketball court is hidden in the back of the park behind the handball courts and bordering a not-so-busy street. The location of the court makes it feel like a neglected area. Rarely are there many people playing at this court, as most people partake in activities at the playground or field. While the surface of the court has minimal cracks and dirt, it has no traction, making it difficult to play effectively. The backboards and rims are fairly worn down and don't provide much room for error as they are stiff and poorly secured. The hoops are slightly worse than those of the other parks featured in this review. So, along with the unpleasant surface and lonely environment this park lands in the 4th spot.
Image Credit: Ben Cox
#3 Washington Park
Located off of East Washington Boulevard near Lake Avenue lies Washington Park. The basketball court is sandwiched between the tennis and handball courts and borders the street. If you enjoy playing at a court that is in the middle of some action but not overly crowded, this is the place for you. The single basketball court nestled between the noise, buzz, and the semi-lush greenery is a good option for a place to practice by yourself or play with your friends. Although it is not the liveliest court, the surrounding environment usually makes up for it. Regular handball games and tennis lessons prevent the park from feeling uninhabited. The court itself has a decent grip but is not regularly cleaned and can become slippery. Also, there are a fair amount of cracks on one side of the court. Additionally, the dimensions are slightly off, pushing the three point line out of bounds. Luckily, this is easily navigated by extending the boundaries to the concrete bordering the painted area. The rims are surprisingly good for an outdoor court, as they don’t send your ball flying on a miss. However, they are still sturdy and secure to the backboards, which are slightly on the smaller side. This park is a good place to play with others or solo, as it has a fairly decent chance of being unoccupied; however, don’t play here if you’re looking to join a pickup game.
#2 Robinson Park
Robinson Park is located on Fair Oaks and Hammond, making it accessible to Sequoyah School students. The park is home to two full basketball courts as well as a recreation center building with an indoor court (which will not factor into the ranking of the courts). The two courts are well-finished and provide good grip with few cracks. The glass backboards and the rims are good for an outdoor court, making it a much more enjoyable overall playing experience. The courts alone are close to perfect compared to others in the area, but its location next to a busy street with no divider between the court and the noisy road makes it less enjoyable and fairly loud. Additionally, the park itself doesn’t normally host many people, and the combination of the empty courts and busy roads makes it an environment not ideal for basketball. While the overall facilities are better than most other parks, its lack of an enjoyable environment brings its ranking down a bit. This park is a good option to practice if you value facilities and are looking to shoot around or play a pickup game with friends.
#1 Brenner Park
Buried between the busy Orange Grove and Mountain St. lives the hidden gem of basketball courts in Pasadena, Brenner Park. Small and easy to pass by, this park isn’t often crowded, but is never quite un-occupied, making it a great place to practice on your own or have a pickup game. The park consists of a small baseball field, a basketball court, a tennis court, and some small concrete tables. Although the park isn’t always the host of a lively game, its calm surrounding environment of neighborhood streets creates a prime setting for a focused practice. The court has great plexiglass backboards with a single rim, making it much easier to shoot on. The surface of the court is slightly slanted but provides good traction and is mostly dirt-free except for a small area on one side of the court. The court is fairly spacious compared to most other outdoor courts and the lines are regulated, which further enhances this court. Brenner Park is a great place to play basketball for everyone in Pasadena and I would highly recommend it to all. From the backboards and good grippy surface to the availability of the court and its surroundings, this park almost has it all.
Image Credit: Ben Cox
All of these courts are good choices for anyone who enjoys playing basketball, whether that be alone or with others. Regardless of the court, basketball should be accessible and enjoyable to all and, hopefully, all public parks will take action to improve their courts until then. I hope you enjoyed my rankings!