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Players urge city not to remove tennis courts at Regatta and Sumner parks
Summary
Multiple players and residents told the Parks Commission the Regatta and Sumner Park courts are critical for local tennis play and that unauthorized pickleball striping has rendered at least one court unplayable; they urged restraint on conversions and better maintenance.
Residents and players told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on Dec. 8 that proposed conversions of public tennis courts to pickleball are harming tennis access and, in some cases, leaving courts unplayable.
Maria Strickland, a tennis player who said she has also played pickleball, told commissioners that Director Brian Smith and staff did not recommend Sumner Park as a preferred pickleball location at the prior meeting. She said she spoke with Darren Cook of the Washington Pickleball Association, who told her Sumner’s surface is not ideal for pickleball. "Sumner was not their... first choice because of the current surface of the tennis court," Strickland said, and she asked the city to restripe courts so tennis players can find clear lines to play.
Kevin Jorgensen, who identified himself as an Oak Harbor resident and racket‑sports player, warned that converting Regatta — the only place tennis players can use courts during school hours — would leave weekday tennis players with no nearby option. "If we take away Regatta during the week, during school year, there's nowhere for us to play," he said.
A speaker identifying only as Alex testified that the Regatta court is not playable because overlapping pickleball lines make tennis sight lines confusing, and said the Castilian Hills homeowners association has offered a pickleball court the city could maintain as an alternative.
Commissioners and staff acknowledged the concerns. Facilities subcommittee members said volunteers from the tennis club have invested heavily in court upkeep when city maintenance lagged and argued that volunteer investment deserves protection. Commissioners also discussed tape residue and paint matching as recurring maintenance problems from unauthorized striping.
No formal action to convert any specific court was recorded during the meeting; commissioners said they will continue discussions in subcommittees and the broader master‑planning process.
