Residents and players press Tucker council to approve pickleball courts at Tucker Rec Center

Dozens of residents and players told the Tucker Mayor and City Council on Monday that the city should move forward with a planned 12-court pickleball complex at the Tucker Recreation Center.

Speakers representing the sport’s organized clubs, parents and long-time residents said pickleball drives participation across ages, generates weekend economic activity and creates social ties. “We’ve generated over $1,500,000 to the city of Tucker in economic impact” from tournaments in recent years, said a representative of Tucker Youth Soccer Association (Tysa), asking the council not to remove Livezey Field from current use. “We’re the community club. We’ve been growing. We’ve been around for 50 years,” he said.

Other players and residents described personal benefits and urged a vote. “Pickleball is the fastest growing sport,” said Alex Fernando, a Tucker resident of more than three decades. Laurie Davis said the sport provided social and health benefits for older residents and asked the council to stop delaying a vote. “If this project does not move forward, our community of players will be forced to travel to other cities to play and spend our money,” she said.

Not all speakers supported the Rec Center location. Several neighbors and other residents asked for more inclusive community outreach, protection of green space and noise mitigation. Heather Hale, speaking as a resident, said parts of the planning process “left my neighbors on Morgan Road and the rest of the community out of the conversation” and urged the council to consider alternatives and to include neighborhood voices. Cheryl Chirico proposed forming a committee of residents, players and officials to negotiate hours, landscaping and acoustic treatments; she cited an acoustic fence used at an Encinitas complex as one possible mitigation.

Supporters and opponents both pointed to the city’s noise and sight studies. Proponents told the council that the studies show the Rec Center as an appropriate site and that mitigation such as landscaping and acoustic fencing could reduce impacts; opponents said more local engagement and alternatives that preserve green areas should be pursued. Several speakers suggested practical compromises such as agreed hours for play, additional landscaping and fencing.

Council did not take an immediate vote on the pickleball project during this meeting; the public comment period concluded and council moved on to its agenda. The topic was discussed repeatedly during the public comment period and council members signaled they would consider the public input as the project moves through staff review and formal agenda items.

Ending: The pickleball debate generated extensive public participation at the meeting and produced competing requests: many players and local clubs pressed the council to approve courts at the Rec Center to support a growing sport and local economic activity, while neighbors pressed for greater outreach and mitigation measures before final approval. The council did not adopt a binding action on the project at Monday’s meeting.