At its March 18 meeting, the Martinez City Council voted to permanently discontinue pickleball play at the Hidden Valley Sports Courts, effective immediately. The decision follows a year of operational challenges, extensive neighborhood feedback, and a formal staff recommendation presented to the Council.
The eight pickleball courts, converted from former tennis courts and opened in February 2025, have generated persistent noise and traffic/parking complaints from nearby residents. Despite multiple mitigation efforts, the courts’ proximity to homes led the City Council to conclude that pickleball play is not a compatible use at this location.
Since the courts opened, the City has undertaken numerous efforts to address concerns, including:
- Installing signage and parking advisories
- Initiating two structured trial periods with revised operating hours
- Establishing new court-specific rules
- Encouraging players to use quieter equipment
- Completing a neighborhood survey of residents within 500 feet of the courts
- Implementing an ambassador program with pickleball volunteers
- Engaging an independent acoustical engineer specializing in pickleball noise, whose expert opinion concluded that no feasible mitigation measures could adequately address the noise impacts given the courts’ location.
After reviewing actions undertaken over the past year, results of the neighborhood survey, and hearing public comment at the meeting, the Council voted to discontinue pickleball at the site. Council members cited neighborhood compatibility issues and the lack of viable mitigation options as key factors in their decision.
“We understand that this has been a difficult and emotional issue for many in our community,” said Mayor Brianne Zorn. “Over the past year, we have heard from residents, players, and neighborhood groups, and the Council carefully weighed all of that input in reaching this decision. Our decision reflects that feedback and the City’s responsibility to respond to community needs while maintaining the quality of life in our neighborhoods.”
Outcomes of this decision:
- All pickleball courts at the Hidden Valley Sports Courts are closed immediately.
- The tennis court and renovated halfcourt basketball court will remain open for public use; no pickleball play is permitted on these courts.
- Potential alternative locations for future pickleball facilities will be incorporated into the ongoing Park System Master Plan process.
The long-term repurposing of the former pickleball courts will be determined at a later date, and the topic will be incorporated into upcoming discussions related to the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and the Park System Master Plan update, both of which will include community engagement and Council review in the coming months.
Media Contact:
Eve Kearney, City Manager’s Office
925-387-9081, ekearney@cityofmartinez.org
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