Pickleball tournament organizer asks board to reduce court rental; board cites standard fee policy

David Mendelbaum, organizer of the Making Memories Pickleball Classic, asked the Greenwood Parks Board Feb. 4 to consider reducing the daily court rental fee for the tournament because proceeds go to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Why it matters: The tournament is a fundraiser that the organizer said raised $57,000 last year and drew 385 players; Mendelbaum said he paid $4,500 to rent courts over three days last year and asked whether the board or staff could lower the per‑day fee so more funds would go to the charity.

Discussion: Mendelbaum said the $4,500 cost for three days compared unfavorably with other tournaments that rent indoor facilities and pay about $1,000 per day. He described the event as a major fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association, called staff who helped the prior year “fantastic” and asked whether the board or staff sets the fee.

Parks staff and board members said the department regularly reviews fee structures but applies a single, standardized rental policy to avoid favoritism. A staff presenter summarized the department’s position: rental fees are set to be uniform across events and organizations to prevent claims of bias and to keep administration consistent. One board member emphasized the difficulty of creating exceptions because granting one subsidy could open the floodgates of similar requests.

Outcome: The board approved the use agreement for the Making Memories Pickleball Classic, subject to final legal review; it did not approve a fee reduction at the meeting. Staff indicated they will follow the department’s normal fee-setting process and continue to review fee structures periodically.

Ending: Mendelbaum said he appreciated the board’s support for the event and thanked staff for prior assistance. Board members wished the tournament luck and noted the new Fruit Park courts were an improvement over previous venues.