Brentwood debate over indoor tennis/pickleball center continues; motion to attach referendum withdrawn

Residents and commissioners spent the largest portion of the Feb. 10 Board of Commissioners meeting debating whether Brentwood should build an indoor tennis and pickleball facility at Crockett Park and whether the city should put a bond referendum on a future ballot.

The discussion began during the public-comment period, when several residents urged action for and against the project. Devin McClendon said he represents “more than 1,900 registered Brentwood citizens who simply asked you, let's put this to a vote of the citizens,” and said many petition signers asked for time for “real data and real facts and debate and public input.” Ray Brown and Julie O'Neil described demand across age groups and said tournaments could bring hotel and restaurant revenue. Opponents and cautious residents asked for clearer cost estimates and wider public outreach; Janet Donahue said the ad hoc committee’s figures were unclear and that the city has not produced a reliable count of unique local players.

Commissioners framed the debate around process and…