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Tennis players, pickleball advocates press council over Al Cruz court conversions
Summary
Residents and local tennis‑association leaders urged the council to halt plans to convert Al Cruz Tennis Center courts to pickleball, asking for a task force, usage audits and an official hold while staff reviews contract compliance and usage data.
Dozens of residents and members of the Corpus Christi Tennis Association urged the council to pause a proposed conversion of courts at Al Cruz Tennis Center to pickleball, saying the parks‑and‑rec agreement with the Alzando Foundation requires equal programming at both centers and that point‑of‑sale data understates organized league and tournament use.
Speakers including Ron Woods, Julia Garcia and members of the Corpus Christi Tennis Association asked the city manager to put court conversions on hold until a task force and fuller usage audit are completed. Council members asked staff for briefings and asked the parks department to hold any conversion actions pending further review. Staff indicated they would pause plans and report back within days.
Supporters of conversion said pickleball demand has surged and that indoor or covered conversions at other sites could preserve tournament capabilities at Al Cruz; opponents stressed long‑standing tournament and league uses that depend on multiple courts. Council signaled it will seek more complete attendance and invoicing data before authorizing conversions.
What’s next: Parks staff will provide a briefing to council and convene a task force as requested; staff said all court conversion work will be put on hold pending that briefing.
