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Hundreds of residents urge Walnut Creek council to restore pickleball hours as lawsuit proceeds
Summary
At least 20 speakers during public communications urged the City Council to restore weekday afternoon hours at Rudyard/Red Deer Park courts, called for more courts or relocation options, and described health and community benefits; city attorney reported a demurrer was filed and cautioned about public discussion during active litigation.
Dozens of players, coaches and residents told the Walnut Creek City Council on Dec. 16 that recent reductions in Red Deer/Rudyard Park pickleball hours have limited recreational opportunities and harmed community programming.
"As soon as legally possible, restore the park hours to what it is for normal park," said Eric Egeland, who identified himself as born in Walnut Creek and a parent of four children. Multiple other speakers — from high-school students to national champions — recounted lost after-school lessons, reduced senior play, and long waits for court time. "We have only eight public courts in the entire city serving a population of 70,000," said Mark Nolch, urging the city to consider directing funds to additional facilities.
Speakers proposed several remedies: restore weekday afternoon hours; build more courts at alternative sites such as the southwest corner of Tice Valley Road and Rossmore Parkway; fund acoustic mitigation or sound walls; or negotiate a settlement that begins with full-hour restoration as a baseline. Steve Martin, a national champion who spoke for the Pickleball Club, presented a sketch of a 10-court layout at Tice Valley and suggested using 1% of a Measure O allocation as an illustrative funding source.
City Attorney reported to the council that the city filed a demurrer in the lawsuit challenging the courts and that the matter is under submission to the court. "There was no reportable action from closed session," the City Attorney said, and added the court is asked to decide whether the complaint should be dismissed or proceed. City Manager cautioned the public to limit comments about active litigation on the public record, while saying staff remains open to site proposals.
Representatives of the Walnut Creek Pickleball Club offered to help with mitigation and programming; Jill Schinkel, a club board member, said the club has supported school programs and coach training and requested more access for students and families. Several speakers tied pickleball to health benefits — one speaker described the sport as a key therapy for a medical condition.
Council did not take immediate action on policy changes at the meeting; the council acknowledged the volume of public interest and noted the litigation status and constraints on public discussion while the case is pending.
