Arroyo Grande Pickleball Court Debate: The Arroyo Grande City Council has paused a plan to convert two tennis courts into multi-use courts for both tennis and pickleball. After a split vote on Tuesday, the council decided to wait for survey results and community input before making a final decision.
Masterplan and Proposal
The plan was part of the city’s Soto Sports Complex Masterplan, which aims to improve and upgrade the sports complex. The proposal to allow both tennis and pickleball on the same courts drew the most public attention during the council meeting.
Council Discussion and Community Input
Arroyo Grande Mayor Caren Russom said she was not ready to make a decision due to strong concerns from both tennis and pickleball players. She said,
“I came in thinking doesn’t it make sense to just try it out temporarily, and what I learned tonight was nope, that doesn’t make sense. It makes sense to one group but not the other and I’m not willing right now to favor one group over the other.”
Mayor Russom added that some people may be unhappy with the council’s decision. She hopes that with survey data and more community feedback, the council can make a choice that benefits both tennis and pickleball players.
Next Steps
The city council will review survey results and additional community input before revisiting the plan. The decision aims to balance the needs of both tennis and pickleball communities while guiding the development of the Soto Sports Complex.
News in Brief: Arroyo Grande Pickleball Court Debate
The Arroyo Grande City Council has delayed a plan to convert two tennis courts into multi-use courts for tennis and pickleball. Mayor Caren Russom said more survey data and community input are needed before making a final decision. The move aims to fairly consider both sports communities.