Brentwood Is Closing Its Creekside Pickleball Courts: What Players Should Know
Brentwood, California is closing its Creekside Park pickleball courts, and the players who use them have spent the past month trying to stop it. The city council voted again on October 19 and kept the plan: the courts close on November 2, and temporary courts in a parking lot at another park open the next morning. Here is what the local reporting says, what each side argued, and what it shows about how these disputes usually go.
What is happening
- The courts. Creekside has four pickleball courts, which a local news report says were completed in August 2024.
- The decision. The council backed closing them in a unanimous vote on September 21, once temporary courts are ready. After players objected, it held a special meeting on October 19 with pickleball as the only agenda item. It confirmed the closure again. One report puts that vote at 5-0, and another does not give a tally.
- The dates. The courts close on Monday, November 2. Temporary courts at the Sunset Sports Complex on Elkins Way open on Tuesday, November 3 at 7:00 a.m. An earlier plan had a transition date of October 26, and later reporting replaced it.
- The temporary courts. They are in the back parking lot at Sunset Park, on existing asphalt rather than a purpose-built court surface.
- The future. The city has set aside about $1.73 million toward a permanent facility. Staff also recommended notifying residents within 1,000 feet of Creekside to gather input on a feasibility study for the existing courts.
Why the city says it is closing them
According to Contra Costa News, council members pointed to neighborhood noise, including loud music and people who stayed after the courts closed. They also pointed to blocked parking and the effect on residents' quality of life. Members said the matter had been under discussion for more than a year, and one said police or staff had sometimes had to respond after the courts closed. Staff said they did not know whether a sound study had been done. The reporting says the council's view was that mitigation at this site had not worked. Our post on how loud pickleball is compared with tennis explains why the sound of paddle and ball is such a common complaint.
What players and residents argued
- The process. Players said the September 21 agenda talked about planning a permanent facility and the long-term future of Creekside, but did not list a near-term closure or temporary parking-lot courts. They argued that more people would have attended if it had. This is the reason the October 19 meeting was called, according to the Contra Costa Herald.
- The cost. Speakers questioned closing recently built courts while paying for temporary replacements.
- Safety and comfort. Contra Costa News reports concerns about uneven asphalt, falls and joint injuries, plus heat. Speakers also said the temporary site lacks shade, drinking water, restrooms and room for spectators.
- Compromises. Supporters asked the city to try shorter hours, fewer days of play, quieter paddles and balls, sound-reducing equipment, or direct talks with neighbors before a full closure.
The Herald's piece on the October 19 meeting was written by a member of the Creekside Pickleball Club, so it represents the players' view. We cite it for the facts on dates and the agenda, and the arguments above are attributed to the people who made them.
A pattern worth knowing
Brentwood's story is a common one. A neighborhood court draws a crowd, nearby residents complain about noise and parking, and the city weighs the complaints against demand. Councils often choose one of three paths: limit hours, add sound mitigation, or move play to a different site. Brentwood is going with a move, and a central objection from players is that the decision skipped the first two steps. Whether the temporary courts work for the people who used Creekside will become clear in the weeks after November 3.
If you play in the area, check the city's announcements before you head to Creekside after November 2. You can also browse nearby courts on our California court finder or the full court finder. For the wider picture on how fast the sport is outgrowing the places to play, see our post on why pickleball needs large investment for court demand. If you have a court story from your own town, you can add courts and updates through our submit form.
