New pickleball courts at a park in Martinez are now being recommended to close permanently just a year after opening because of noise complaints from neighbors, city officials said Friday.
The Martinez City Council on Wednesday will decide whether to close the eight pickleball courts at the , located in a residential area across Center Avenue from the larger Hidden Valley Park.
The courts, funded by federal grant dollars, opened in February 2025 and quickly grew popular, but may have been too popular for their own good since pickleball games brought noise and parking complaints from nearby residents.
The City Council in September reduced the available hours and days that people could use the courts, but the problems continued. A survey sent last fall to residents within 500 feet of the courts found more than 40% of respondents said pickleball activity there had negatively affected them.
One respondent in the survey wrote, “I hate these pickleball courts. The noise level from the paddles striking the stupid plastic balls is way too loud. This noise most likely exceeds what is allowed in the municipal code for noise. These pickleball courts need to be closed immediately and permanently.”
“I hate these pickleball courts. The noise level from the paddles striking the stupid plastic balls is way too loud. … These pickleball courts need to be closed immediately and permanently.”
Survey response concerning Martinez pickleball courts
A staff report for Wednesday’s meeting notes that national research shows pickleball noise issues have been a problem in communities across the country, with some cities facing costly litigation from residents. Some cities have adopted standards of putting the courts at least 300 feet from homes, while Martinez’s are located just 50 to 100 feet from some homes.
The staff report recommended discontinuing pickleball at the Hidden Valley courts, though an adjacent tennis court would remain open. That leaves Martinez pickleball enthusiasts in a pickle since there are no other courts free and open to the public in the city, though there are 23 in nearby Concord, 10 in Walnut Creek and four in Pleasant Hill.
If the City Council approves the closure, city employees “will immediately begin implementation, which will result in locking the current pickleball facility and removing its nets,” the staff report said.
The meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the council chambers at 525 Henrietta St., Martinez. The agenda for the meeting and more information can be found on the city’s website.
