Fairfax Park Authority Removes Pickleball Courts Amid Protests

Fairfax Park Authority Removes Pickleball Courts: The Fairfax County Park Authority’s decision to shut down pickleball at Kendale Woods Park in Annandale has sparked controversy and community resistance.

Early on June 14, Park Authority staff and contractors arrived at Kendale Woods Park to remove pickleball nets. However, their efforts were met with resistance as players staged a sit-in at the courts. Despite their presence, the crew left without completing planned maintenance.

Later that night, the Park Authority installed a lock on the fence, effectively preventing access to the courts for pickleball and tennis players alike.

The decision came shortly after pickleball players filed an injunction, seeking to halt the removal until noise levels from the courts could be accurately measured and mitigated if necessary. The Park Authority cited complaints from nearby residents about noise, although the players argue that existing buffers should mitigate concerns.

Since the announcement of the closure, local residents have mobilized, expressing frustration over what they perceive as the Park Authority’s unilateral decision. They argue that the removal violates an agreement made when the property was deeded for community use in 1983.

Pickleball players have got support through petitions and appeals to county officials, questioning the transparency and reasoning behind the decision. Some assumptions about potential motives, including suspicions of outside influences or conflicts over court usage.

After the removal of the pickleball courts was announced in early May, neighborhood pickleball players mobilized to save them. They wrote to Cole and other county officials, attended a Park Board meeting, and posted a petition that has garnered 545 signatures so far.

Public officials, while sympathetic to the community’s concerns, have deferred to the Park Authority’s jurisdiction in managing local facilities. Supervisor Andres Jimenez highlighted the challenge of balancing community recreation needs with neighborhood concerns.

In response to community backlash, Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay expressed disappointment in the decision, emphasizing ongoing efforts to expand recreational opportunities for residents countywide.

McKay wrote, “This is a very unfortunate decision and one I do not agree with, especially given all we are doing as a county to expand pickleball opportunities for residents.”

Despite these efforts, tensions remain high as residents and officials navigate the fallout from the closure, with community members advocating for dialogue and reconsideration of the Park Authority’s decision.

Margery Gehan, a resident of Broyhill Crest near Kendale Woods Park, wrote to McKay requesting a meeting or phone call to discuss retaining the pickleball courts.

Gehan criticized the Park Authority for not reaching out to the Broyhill Crest Community Association. Residents only became aware of the plan to remove the pickleball courts when they read about it in Annandale Today.

“Pickleball keeps our community together,” Gehan wrote. “It’s a healthy and enjoyable outlet and an equitable sport that brings people together.”

The fate of pickleball at Kendale Woods Park remains uncertain, pending further legal and community developments.

News in Brief : Fairfax Park Authority Removes Pickleball Courts