Mountain View Pickleball Court Debate: Mountain View is weighing where to build new pickleball courts as demand for the sport rises. City leaders are considering adding courts at Cuesta Park or Cuesta Annex, but the idea has sparked backlash from residents who want to protect green spaces. A final decision will involve public input later this month.
Growing Demand for Pickleball Courts
Pickleball has become one of the city’s fastest-growing sports, and current facilities are struggling to keep up. Rengstorff Park has three dedicated pickleball courts and six shared with tennis. According to Cliff Chambers, president of the Mountain View Pickleball Club board, “The courts are always full.”
Opposition to Using Green Space
Some residents strongly oppose building courts at Cuesta Park or Cuesta Annex, saying it would harm natural areas. A campaign called Save Cuesta Park and Annex has pushed for other sites, warning that the annex is one of the last remaining open spaces in the city.
“Once it’s paved over, it can’t come back,” said Mountain View resident Leslie Friedman. “It’s peaceful and has a lot of trees and walking trails.”
City’s Proposal and Costs
City staff studied more than 60 locations last year and found Cuesta Park a top candidate. Officials suggested replacing the dog bowl area of the park with 10 courts, but the $5 million price tag drew criticism. The high cost came from grading, wall repairs, and relocating the dog area, according to a city memo.
Mike Rodgers, former president of the Mountain View Tennis Club, said, “It cannibalized a lot of green space,” including the off-leash area. He supported new courts but favored placing them on the annex.
Alternative Locations Under Review
Rodgers also suggested a design with 16 courts on a small section of the annex. Assistant Community Services Director Kristine Crosby said the city is also looking at 939 San Rafael Avenue, where a park is planned. That site could hold fewer than an acre of courts, though it currently has a business lease until 2027.
The Save Cuesta Park and Annex campaign supports the San Rafael site, calling it a way to add recreation without losing green space. Other proposed locations, such as Shoreline Park parking lots, were dismissed because of leases, municipal uses, or environmental limits.
Pickleball Players Divided
Even some players prefer alternatives to Cuesta Annex. “We don’t want them there,” said Mountain View player Ray Montanez. “It’s the last remaining open space.” He and others also called the Cuesta dog bowl plan too costly. “But we want them everywhere else,” he laughed.
The Mountain View Pickleball Club has not taken a formal stance. Chambers said, “We’re withholding judgment until the actual details are seen,” though he noted the Cuesta area could be a good fit since it is not near homes.
What Comes Next
The debate is expected to remain heated. “(It’s) not going to make everybody happy,” Chambers said. Residents will get a chance to share their views at a public meeting on August 27 at the Mountain View Community Center.
“This is an opportunity for us to bring those forward and really have a good dialogue and seek feedback from the community,” said Marchant.
News in Brief: Mountain View Pickleball Court Debate
Mountain View is considering new pickleball courts as demand grows, but proposals for Cuesta Park and Cuesta Annex face pushback from residents defending green spaces. Alternatives like San Rafael Avenue are under review. A public meeting on August 27 will give the community a chance to weigh in before decisions are made.
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