PFAS Identified In Pickleball And Tennis Court Sealants

Water Contamination Lawsuit News

New studies show court resurfacing materials with fluorinated binders may release PFAS into runoff that flows through parks and recreational areas

Sunday, November 16, 2025 - Pickleball and tennis courts have become some of the most popular recreation spots in neighborhoods across the country, but new environmental testing suggests that many of these brightly painted surfaces may be quietly adding PFAS in community water systems. The sealants and resurfacing coatings used to create smooth, weather-resistant courts often contain fluorinated binders that help the material resist scuffing, moisture, and UV damage. When it rains, small particles of these coatings can wash off the court surface and mix with stormwater, carrying PFAS into nearby drains, grassy swales, or retention ponds. Families who visit these parks daily are surprised to learn that the places they enjoy for exercise may also be slow, steady contributors to chemical contamination. As communities pay closer attention to PFAS water contamination cancer risks and tighten PFAS drinking-water standards, even recreational areas are being re-evaluated for hidden pollution sources. Many courts are resurfaced every few years, which means new layers of coating are added repeatedly, increasing the amount of material that can eventually break down and enter local waterways. For towns with multiple pickleball and tennis facilities, the combined runoff during storms can add up quickly and create contamination patterns no one saw coming.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PFAS compounds can remain intact for decades once they enter soil or stormwater systems, and they travel easily through runoff during heavy rainfall. This makes outdoor recreational facilities particularly vulnerable because they are large, flat surfaces designed to shed water quickly. Early sampling at public parks and school athletic complexes has shown PFAS in drainage channels downstream of courts that were resurfaced with fluorinated products. Treatment plants cannot remove PFAS effectively, and many recreational drainage systems bypass treatment altogether, sending water directly into rivers, wetlands, or shallow groundwater. With PFAS drinking-water standards becoming stricter, environmental agencies are beginning to review court maintenance practices, including the types of coatings approved for public use. Some states are considering whether resurfacing products should be reformulated without fluorinated additives, while others are reviewing whether runoff controls like filtration trenches or vegetated buffers should be added around courts. Communities that already struggle with contamination from airports, industry, or stormwater runoff want assurance that their recreational spaces are not silently adding to the burden. For families seeking healthy outdoor activities, knowing that court surfaces are PFAS-free is becoming just as important as good lighting or safe equipment.

In the years ahead, pickleball and tennis courts will likely become part of a wider effort to eliminate PFAS from public spaces. Manufacturers are already beginning to experiment with non-fluorinated binders that can withstand weather and heavy foot traffic without shedding harmful chemicals. Cities may adopt new purchasing rules that require PFAS-free sealants for all resurfacing projects. Parks departments might also install stormwater filters or redesign nearby landscaping to capture runoff before it reaches waterways. As awareness grows, communities will expect full transparency about materials used on recreational surfaces, especially with stricter PFAS drinking-water standards shaping future regulations. By choosing safer court coatings and improving water management practices, parks can continue offering healthy recreation while reducing long-term PFAS cancer risk for nearby neighborhoods.

More Recent Federal Government Water Contamination Lawsuit News:

Let Our Water Contamination Attorneys Help You

Our attorneys specialize in holding large corporations accountable when they've placed profits ahead of safety. Through settlements and winning verdicts, our attorneys have obtained millions for our clients. Let us help you today.

Lawsuits for PFAS Contaminated Drinking Water

Filing a lawsuit will allow you to hold the federal government accountable for damage it has caused you or a loved one, while also providing real compensation for your medical expenses, suffering and loss. Contact us today for a free consultation.

No-Cost, No-Obligation Water Contamination Lawsuit Case Review

Sidebar

Who Can File a PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit?

Find Out If You Qualify
Contact Us for a Free Case Review

TOLL-FREE HELPLINE 1-833-ONDER-LAW


Federal Government Water Contamination Lawsuit News