West Palm Beach Pickleball Dispute: A major conflict has broken out at Riverwalk of the Palm Beaches, a private community in West Palm Beach, Florida. The dispute is about whether six new pickleball courts should be built. Some residents want the courts, but others are strongly against the idea. Both sides have even formed legal teams to fight the issue.
The community already has eight pickleball courts, but players say those have clay surfaces, which aren’t suitable for tournaments. A new plan suggests building six new hard-surface courts near the tennis area. This plan has upset some residents, who are worried about noise, crowding, and losing open space.
A Split Community
Riverwalk is a large neighborhood with homes priced around $537,849. It includes 13 miles of walking trails, a town center, restaurants, three pools, and more. A home there can cost over $600,000, with monthly fees of about $530.
A few years ago, local pickleball fans asked for six more courts. At first, they thought of changing the old ones, but the cost was too high. So, they suggested building new courts on a grassy area near the tennis courts.
Joshua Payne, a real estate attorney at Pincus & Currier, represents residents who are against the new courts.
“If you get on the wrong side of pickleballers, they hate you forever,”. “They’re so avid, there’s no in-between with them.”(Joshua Payne)
The Noise and Space Debate
Opponents say the new courts would be too noisy and take away open land used for events.
“It’s really an inopportune location,”. “They’re going to take one of the open, grassy areas that was available for events, and turn it into this [pickleball] thing with concessions and seating and all that.
We’re concerned it will turn into a covered, air-conditioned pickleball building.”(Joshua Payne)
Joshua Payne also worries about people who live near the courts.
“I’m sure if I was owning a house [next to the courts], I would want to move. It will just be smack, smack, smack all around,”. “And since they want to have tournaments there, there will be far more usage than there is now.”(Joshua Payne)
Still, a committee report in 2024 said two real estate agents believe new courts will raise home values.
A Battle of Opinions
Joshua Payne doesn’t think the courts are a good idea. He even compares pickleball to racquetball, a sport that lost popularity.
“People built those big, concrete monsters, and now they’re empty,” (Joshua Payne).
He also claims that a recent resident survey showed over 60% of people don’t want more courts. Despite that, the community board is still collecting bids from contractors.
“The pickleball people took over the Board,”(Joshua Payne).
But a Riverwalk resident who still plays there doesn’t agree. The person says pickleball is growing, and the community risks falling behind.
“Every community is building the hard courts; they add value to the homes,” the insider insists. “To not do it will be a big loss to the community.”
The estimated cost of the new courts is around $340,000, according to the Palm Beach Post.
What This Could Mean
The fight at Riverwalk shows how pickleball’s rise is causing tension in many neighborhoods. While some say it boosts home values and community spirit, others worry about noise and lost space. What happens next in Riverwalk could influence how other communities handle similar disputes in the future.
News in Brief: West Palm Beach Pickleball Dispute
A major dispute has broken out at Riverwalk of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, over a plan to build six new pickleball courts. Some residents say the courts will raise home values, while others worry about noise and lost space. Both sides have hired lawyers to fight the issue.
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