Member of the Martinez pickleball group at NorCal Courts. (COURTESY/On File )
Mayor Rob Schroder held up an impressively thick stack of papers.
“I haven’t received as much correspondence since the beaver issue and that was just enormous,” he said, causing boisterous laughter throughout the audience at last week’s council meeting.
For weeks both pickleball and tennis enthusiasts have been sending emails to the council at a furious rate, either for or against the conversion of an existing Martinez tennis court to a pickleball court. Efforts culminated in the subject finally being slated on the agenda for the regular City Council meeting last Wednesday.
Pickleball has been growing in popularity for years, as evidenced by the new dual-use Hidden Lakes Park courts established in Martinez last December. While the name – which affectionately stems from co-creator Joel Pritchard’s family dog Pickles – might not immediately ring any bells with mainstream sports fans, pickleball has grown tremendously in Martinez and throughout the nation.
And it was easy to see that just from the attendance at City Hall; a standing room only event eclipsing even the effort from Dog Park advocates just a few weeks prior.
Tennis supporters, although fewer in attendance than their sister sport players, spoke to make their case as well. The back and forth arguments led to a bit of a contentious atmosphere in the room, as pickleball supporters would display their disapproval by shaking their heads in unison when accused of making parking at courts difficult, or presumably leaving trash behind following play sessions. And on the other end, tennis players found themselves equally distraught when accused of being unwelcoming to pickleball players waiting their turn.
Karen Siemsen, one of the organizers in charge of the Martinez Pickleball website and Facebook group, spoke as the group’s main representative and spokesperson. She advocated for dedicated pickleball courts to avoid conflicts with tennis players, and as a group committed to engaging in fundraising to make it happen.
“Having shared space makes it very difficult because pickleball players have no alternative. We can’t go to one of the other tennis courts because there is no facility. Tennis players have that option,” exclaimed Siemsen on why a dedicated court is far more preferable over mixed use.
Those who came to speak on behalf of tennis players admitted outright that they are fairly territorial about their play space. One citizen called the changing of tennis courts to pickleball courts a “betrayal” of the guidelines established in Measure H. “Tennis was here first,” he claimed, causing a mixed reaction from audience members. Another local parent advocated for her son on the Alhambra Varsity tennis team, saying that many other tennis courts are not as well-lit at night time, and the Alhambra tennis courts are not open to the public.
Prior to the City Hall hearing, the Parks, Recreation, Marina, and Cultural Commission (PRMCC) recommended the striping of Cappy Ricks Park to create a court that could be used for both pickleball and tennis.
“My concern is the efficient use of the limited park facilities that we have,” said PRMCC Chair Dylan Radke, addressing the council. Nancy Boyd Park was another looked at for potential conversion because of its supposedly low population, which tennis players were quick to argue against.
Where both sports players did come together was the idea of having mixed lines on courts for multiple use. Players on both sides of the argument noted that the differing lines can create confusion during play, and attracting players of both sports adds to wait times and stigmatizes the other side.
“Converting them would be like a camel: a horse designed by committee. It’s going to make nobody happy,” said one tennis supporter to the council. The sentiment was echoed by another tennis player as well, saying
“It’s really distracting, and it’s not fun anymore to play on those lined courts,” she said. Siemsen echoed this sentiment as well. “It becomes too difficult to tell where the lines are,” she proclaimed.
Another problem with mixed use courts brings concerns about parking, as one tennis supporter noted.
“Tennis courts at the max would have eight people. Pickleball courts at the most have 24 courts. You don’t have to think too hard about how parking would work: poorly,” said Tom Peters, making a comment to the council in favor of tennis.
Ultimately the council did not approve either of the two options provided, unwilling to support the full conversion of any existing court due to the history of tennis in Martinez. Instead, they established an ad hoc committee which will look into a long term solution of establishing a dedicated pickleball court.
The council discouraged conflict between the two groups and advocated for patience and friendliness all around. “I cringe when I hear one sport is this and another is that,” said Vice Mayor Mark Ross.
Ross also advocated for working with existing parks and the school districts to figure out a plan in the meantime. “We need to come up with a short term plan. In the next 30 to 60 days, we can figure out what assets we have and almost double the amount of tennis courts through the school district’s property,” he stated, much to the approval of pickleball supporters in attendance.
Siemsen calls the decision mutually beneficial for both parties.
“I am thrilled that the City Council recognized the need for dedicated courts. This is a win for all the Pickleball players in Martinez and the surrounding area, as well as the tennis players in the community because we won’t have to share the same space,” she said in response to the council’s ruling.
Siemsen followed up by speaking more broadly about what this decision represents.
“The City Council has shown their forward thinking and commitment to creating facilities for all forms of exercise, encouraging people of all ages to continue a lifetime of fitness and healthy lifestyle.”
Councilmembers Lara Delaney and Debbie McKillop volunteered to serve on the ad hoc committee, and Mayor Schroder hopes that they will be able to make recommendations on potential actions in the next 30 to 60 days.