Tom Petty Park’s Pickleball Plan: Many Gainesville residents are concerned about the removal of 19 trees at Tom Petty Park. The city plans to cut down these trees to build eight new pickleball courts as part of park renovations. While the upgrades aim to improve the park, some locals want to save the trees and reduce the courts’ size.
Residents Support Upgrades but Worry About Trees
Phillip Allen, a Gainesville resident, said the park needs upgrades.
“The park absolutely needs a renovation. It needs some upgrades.” – (Phillip Allen)
“The racquetball courts have been in disrepair for a really long time, so it’s really nice to see the city coming through or the county with the Wild Spaces Public Places funding to be able to spruce up the park.” – (Phillip Allen)
However, Allen also feels the pickleball courts are too large.
“Pickleball is great. I just don’t know it needs to be the size they’re planning on doing.” – (Phillip Allen)
Other residents are worried about the trees’ value.
“It’s not lost on me that a tree’s canopy resembles our lungs. They are the source of our oxygen.” – (resident, Susan Mastin)
Monica Leadon Cooper hopes the plan will change to protect the wooded area.
“If they could alter the plan and take off the seventh and eighth court, there would be no reason to impact the woods like that.” – (Monica Leadon Cooper)
Concerns About the Environment and Flooding
Phillip Allen warned that the new courts might cause flooding because of the pavement. He also spoke about the trees’ importance.
“So to hear that they’re going to tear down a bunch of these trees that provide our shade, they provide our education, they provide wildlife all sorts of food, and habitat to live in all to put down pavement when there’s a perfectly acceptable solution to begin with the initial designs of the smaller pickleball courts.” – (Phillip Allen)
City Responds on Tree Removal and Future Plans
City officials said they carefully checked the health of each tree before starting work. A spokesperson for the City of Gainesville told TV20,
“We share our community’s love of Tom Petty Park and its trees. Our Urban Forestry team assessed the long-term health of each tree at the park prior to the start of renovations. The city will remove six trees in poor health and will plant 36 new trees across the park. An additional 13 trees will be removed to make improvements to the multi-use trail and to build the southern seating area and new pickleball courts. The city is also attempting to purchase more than 5 acres to the west and southwest of the park to preserve additional urban forest land.” – (Gainesville spokesperson)
The city also plans to remove 13 trees for the trail improvements, seating area, and pickleball courts. Officials added they are trying to buy more than five acres nearby to protect more forest land.
The situation highlights the challenge of balancing park improvements with environmental care. Residents and city leaders will likely continue discussing ways to update Tom Petty Park while protecting its natural spaces.
News in Brief: Tom Petty Park’s Pickleball Plan
Gainesville plans to cut down 19 trees at Tom Petty Park to build eight pickleball courts. Some residents want smaller courts to save trees and avoid flooding. The city will remove only unhealthy trees and plant 36 new ones. Officials are also seeking to preserve nearby forest land.
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