Brentwood residents speak out over planned closure of pickleball courts

Just opened in 2024; Club members ask residents to sign petition

By Creekside Pickleball Club

Brentwood residents are asking the City Council to reconsider its decision to dismantle the pickleball courts at Creekside Park, saying the courts serve a much larger community than the 160 members of the Brentwood Creekside Pickleball Club who regularly use them. The courts are located on the south side of the park near Cheshire Drive and Arlington Way near the Marsh Creek Trail.

The Creekside courts are also used by non-member players, families and new players learning the sport. Club members say they regularly welcome newcomers and help teach pickleball etiquette and the rules of the game, creating an inclusive recreational environment for players of different ages and skill levels.

Background

During their Monday, Sept. 21st special meeting, the Brentwood City Council, under Item. E.1. on the agenda, received an Annual Update on Pickleball Operations at Creekside Park from City staff, who were given direction on Future Pickleball Court Development including if they should continue preliminary planning and conceptual design for a six-court pickleball facility at 2251 Elkins Way, in the Sunset Park Athletic Complex, including the preferred development option and potential funding approach, and regarding the long-term use of the existing Creekside Park pickleball courts.

The City has been dealing with the Creekside Pickleball Courts since 2020. According to the staff report, “The Creekside Park pickleball courts were completed in August 2024” after plans were drawn up, a contractor was hired and the City announced the construction of the four courts in a Feb. 2nd Facebook post and in the monthly newsletter.

Then, “The City Council took action on March 25, 2025, to reduce operational impacts in response to community complaints regarding noise and evening activity. The Council modified the hours of operation to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and directed staff to physically lock and unlock the courts each day to ensure compliance with posted hours and discourage unauthorized use. Council also directed staff to begin exploring potential locations for future pickleball courts situated outside residential neighborhoods.”

Yet, there were 21 calls for service to the Brentwood Police Department between July 1, 2025 and June 14, 2026, including playing after hours, noise complaints, jumping the fence and trespassing. During the Sept. 21st meeting, City staff proposed temporary courts in the parking lot at the Sunset Complex parking lot.

The Council then voted 5-0 to allocate $1.7 million for the future courts at Sunset, plus, temporary courts there, to close the Creekside Courts upon striping the lot on Sunset, and review options for the use of the facility at Creekside, such as restoring basketball courts or another option that won’t negatively impact neighbors. (See 3:00:15 mark of meeting video)

For some residents, the courts have become an important source of community and belonging.

“When I moved to Brentwood, I had a hard time finding my friend group. I actually considered moving back to Danville because I didn’t feel connected. Then I found the pickleball community at Creekside. It gave me a place to meet people, make friends, and feel like I belonged in my community,” said Corrado Fontana, Brentwood resident and Creekside Pickleball Club Member.

Community members are also questioning the decision from a taxpayer and planning perspective. City records identify the Creekside Park Pickleball Courts as a City capital improvement project, with the project bid process occurring in 2023. Residents estimate approximately $408,000 was invested in the facility and are asking how much additional taxpayer money would be required to dismantle it.

“We are not asking the City to ignore neighbors’ concerns. We are asking the City to find a responsible solution that considers everyone, the nearby residents, the pickleball community, and all Brentwood taxpayers,” said Kelly Reddell, Brentwood resident and Creekside Pickleball Member.

Residents have suggested exploring solutions such as noise mitigation, restricted hours, barriers, landscaping, and court or equipment modifications rather than simply closing the courts.

Residents also have questions about references made during the City Council discussion to police reports related to the courts. Following the meeting, members of the pickleball community requested the reports referenced in the discussion and said they were unable to locate responsive reports on file. The community is asking the City to clearly identify the documented complaints and incidents being considered in the decision.

Residents are also questioning the City’s communication surrounding the Council meeting. The meeting was held on a different night than the City’s regularly scheduled second and fourth Tuesday meetings, making it difficult for many members of the pickleball community to attend. Residents say that when a decision directly affects a large community group, consistent scheduling, clear communication, and reasonable opportunity for public participation should be a priority.

“This is bigger than pickleball. It is about community, recreation, responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and making sure residents have a meaningful voice before a public facility is removed. The proposed alternative also raises serious safety concerns. The area being suggested is not designed or prepared for the active movement and equipment. Before moving people to a space that may not be equipped to safely accommodate this activity, the City should come see the current courts, understand how they are being used, and work with the community on a responsible solution,” said Michael Huarte, Brentwood resident and Creekside Pickleball Club Member.

“I have two invitations for our City Council members. First, come out to Creekside, meet the people who use this space, and see firsthand the community that has grown around it. You’ll see that this is about far more than pickleball. It’s about connection, health, families, friendship, and belonging. Second, allow us to help find a compromise that balances the benefits of the pickleball courts with the concerns of the neighbors.  We have sought and continue to seek a positive and productive relationship with the city. Let’s work together to find a better way forward than the immediate and permanent closure of a nearly new $400,000 facility,” said Aaron Hill, Brentwood resident and Creekside Pickleball Club Member.

A post on the effort’s website, savecreekside.com, includes a message to the city council. It reads, “Creekside Park is a healthy, vibrant community hub that unites people across generations, races, and orientations. On these courts, politics disappear. People of all backgrounds come together to share pure joy, stay active, and escape the heavy stresses of the real world. For many in our city, this is their primary outlet for physical and mental well-being.

“The Brentwood Creekside Pickleball Community does not want to be at odds with our local government—we want to work collaboratively with you. We recognize the city’s desire for thoughtful recreation planning, and our community is eager to partner with the City of Brentwood to enhance, maintain, and support these courts so they remain a point of pride for our city.”

Residents and supporters are encouraged to sign the petition asking the City to reconsider the closure and work collaboratively with the community toward a solution.

SIGN THE PETITION [HERE]

Community members are also encouraged to share the petition with neighbors, friends, and others who have benefited from the Creekside courts.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.