Fort Lauderdale Pickleball Court Controversy: A heated debate has erupted in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, over plans to replace long-standing basketball courts at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park with new public pickleball courts. The change is part of a deal between the city and the Bahia Mar development team, tied to a $2 billion redevelopment project approved in 2023.
The Deal and the Dispute
The Fort Lauderdale City Commission approved the agreement with Bahia Mar in January 2024. Under the deal, the current beachfront basketball courts must be removed to make way for four pickleball courts and new outdoor fitness equipment by January 2027. The Bahia Mar Community Development District has committed up to $1 million to cover the improvements.
The plan sparked backlash from community members and Fort Lauderdale’s Parks, Recreation and Beaches Advisory Board, which urged officials to keep the basketball courts in place.
Opposition from the Parks Board
Joy Oglesby, chair of the parks board, voiced strong objections at a recent City Hall meeting. “No thank you,” she told the commission. “That’s not what we want. We don’t want it relocated even 100 yards.”
In May, the advisory board also sent a letter urging the commission to preserve the existing basketball courts without moving them. “The board’s belief is that the basketball courts should not be moved,” Oglesby said. “Don’t even move them from the bridge. They should stay there. If you want to add a pickleball court, add it in another location on the beach. That basketball court should remain exactly where it is, as it is.”
Why the City Won’t Change Course
Commissioner Steve Glassman, whose district covers the Bahia Mar site, explained that the city is bound by the redevelopment deal. “Please understand that the agreement between the city and Bahia Mar to have pickleball at that exact site can only be changed with agreement by both parties,” Glassman said. “And we’ve already been told by the Bahia Mar development team that they have no intention of changing that. I think that train has left the station in terms of asking, ‘Please don’t move the basketball court.’”
Despite the pushback, Glassman called the compromise a positive outcome. “I’m hoping that the basketball court will move 100 yards of where it is located,” he said. “I’m excited about getting new picnic benches and grills. And I’m also very pleased that we’re getting all new fitness equipment.”
Plans for Relocation
City Manager Rickelle Williams said possible new locations for the basketball courts have already been identified, and staff will return to the commission with a proposal in the fall.
Mayor Dean Trantalis noted that additional picnic benches and barbecue pits were added to the project after the public uproar. “As Commissioner Glassman says, let’s see if we can make this a win-win where we not only get pickleball on the beach but we also get basketball courts and we also get new picnic tables and new barbecue pits,” Trantalis said. “The idea is to create an enhanced experience for those who visit Fort Lauderdale beach. And I think that’s the goal here.”
Trantalis added that players he spoke with did not mind the relocation. “They just want basketball courts,” Trantalis said. “The location of it has never been a material issue for the people who actually play there. There’s nothing iconic for them. They just love the idea that they can play on the beach. And I support that.”
Divided Public Opinion
Commissioner Pamela Beasley-Pittman said not everyone agrees. “I’m getting emails where people are quite concerned about the movement of the basketball courts,” she told the mayor. “What they want to see is for them to stay. But I understand the agreement that we’re in and the opportunity we’re facing to provide new basketball courts. But there are some individuals who do have a desire to keep it status quo. We have two sets of conversations going on.”
What Comes Next
The new pickleball courts are scheduled to be completed by January 2027. While city leaders promise new basketball courts nearby, the disagreement shows how challenging it can be to balance tradition with redevelopment. For now, the debate continues as officials try to please both sides.
News in Brief: Fort Lauderdale Pickleball Court Controversy
Fort Lauderdale will replace beachfront basketball courts with pickleball courts under a $2 billion redevelopment deal with Bahia Mar. Critics, including the parks board, want the courts to stay put. Officials promise to build new courts nearby, but residents remain split over the relocation and future of the popular site.
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