Pickleball group withdraws request to convert Gregory Park tennis courts after neighborhood pushback

Brainerd Parks and Recreation staff told the board that the Brainerd Area Pickleball Association has withdrawn a formal request to convert the three-court section of Gregory Park to permanent pickleball courts, after residents and local tennis players raised concerns about neighborhood impacts and current court usage.

The withdrawal came during agenda item Gregory Park Tennis Court Usage and later in the pickleball-agreement discussion. Kayla (parks staff) opened the pickleball item with a formal apology to the Northside neighborhood for not doing earlier public outreach; she said that, working with the association and other groups, the association has decided to pull its request for a permanent conversion at Gregory Park and will focus on fundraising for a separate complex. Kayla also said the group is still interested in a limited presence at Gregory Park through temporary courts and banners following the city's banner guidelines.

Why it matters: Gregory Park sits in a residential neighborhood and currently hosts a mix of organized school and community uses. Several speakers said the park's existing tennis courts are well-used by local youth, school programs and senior players and should be retained rather than permanently converted.

Residents and tennis players who spoke at the public forum and during the Gregory Park item urged the board not to remove tennis courts. Krista Soukup, president of the Brainerd Northside Neighbors Association, said many neighborhood children walk or bike to Gregory Park courts and called for preserving them. A public commenter who identified himself as Mr. Kellerman presented usage data from 2024 and argued the courts are not used to full capacity but nevertheless provide consistent community benefits. Kellerman and others emphasized that District 181 schools and community education programs use the courts for classes and tournaments and urged the board to seek a separate site for a larger, US Pickleball Association-standard complex.

Supporters of retaining tennis cited several practical points raised in the meeting: the three-court portion at Gregory Park measures approximately 125 by 148 feet, which speakers said is substantially smaller than the roughly 240 by 480 feet often needed for an eight-court sanctioned pickleball complex. Kellerman cited local cost comparisons: he said constructing an eight-court complex typically ranges from about $150,000 to $200,000 and referenced a nearby six-court project that cost about $175,000. Kellerman also stated a resurfacing figure for the Gregory Park courts, reporting a resurfacing cost of $3,040,000 as presented in his materials; staff did not provide a separate, city-verified cost breakdown during the discussion.

Board and staff direction: The board accepted the update and no formal action was taken to change the courts. Staff indicated they will work with the Pickleball Association and Northside neighbors on possible temporary courts, banner fundraising per the banner program standards, and longer-term planning for a new complex elsewhere in Brainerd.

Community reaction and next steps: With the association withdrawing its conversion request, the most immediate outcome is preservation of the existing tennis layout at Gregory Park. Staff said the Pickleball Association will keep fundraising for a separate complex and may request a limited temporary presence at Gregory Park in the future; any such arrangement would follow city banner and temporary-use policies and return to the board if it requires a formal agreement or permit.

The board did not vote on any ordinance or funding related to Gregory Park during this meeting; the issue remains a planning and community-engagement matter for staff and the association.