Correspondence - Updated 9/3 — Alameda City Council, September 3, 2024

From: Leon Wann
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk; Yibin Shen
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Subject: Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 7:44:44 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request creation of a "tennis only" policy for Washington Park's six tennis courts, and installation of corresponding "Tennis Only" signs.

As a regular tennis player at WaPa, I am aware that the tennis courts there are in high demand. The daily/weekly crowd already is substantial; additionally, several USTA league teams hold practices on the courts, and these same teams reserve court time through ARPD, for official matches. Finally, lessons are taught several days during the week. In general, it seems that these courts barely accommodate the current demand. But if even one court is opened to other activities, the demand will exceed the park's capacity, and the tennis community will lose players.

I'm less concerned about Pickleball specifically, but like any other activity, it is not tennis. Let's let the courts remain as they were always intended: for tennis.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Leon Wann
From: Saamy
To: CityCouncil-List
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Tennis only - No pickleball signs
Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 6:57:26 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you,
Saamy Phan
From: John Hu
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk; Yibin Shen
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Requesting "Tennis Only" Signs at Alameda Tennis Courts Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 5:42:20 PM
Attachments: Wapa Incident.docx
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Over the past few months I have had several encounters with pickleball players on the courts at Washington Parks, especially during the busy hours of 3-6pm. Each time, I have respectfully pointed them towards the sign that says "the courts are to be used for tennis only" only for them to not respond positively. It is a very difficult position for us tennis players because of the limited courts on Alameda Island. There have been 04 recorded occasions where I have been forced to wait 45+ mins for a court because either one or more of the courts were occupied by pickleball players. In my experience, my run-ins with pickleballers have been very negative; they get very defensive and rude when we tell them the courts are for tennis. My logical response to them (and I would also implore the Board to consider) is this: what would be the reaction of the pickleball community if us tennis players went to their courts and played tennis? (or rather, mini-tennis, which is what we often play as a form of warmup, or something junior players play competitively). I cannot imagine the immense outcry that would result from them. I respectfully recommend that signs be put up that clearly say tennis courts are exclusively for tennis; or something along the lines of "tennis takes precedence on these courts." The same logic should apply across all sports. Tennis players do not go on basketball courts to play tennis, nor visa versa. I honestly do not think anyone would have an issue with pickleball being played on the Wapa courts during the hours when no one else is waiting to play tennis, but when there is a long line of folks waiting to play tennis (as there is pretty much everytime I play at Wapa), tennis should take precedence. There have been too many times that pickeballers or even folks playing badminton taking up courts while there are 6-8+ people waiting in line to get a tennis court. However, my recommendation is to have tennis-exclusive signs because not doing will will continue to set the precedent that they can be used for purposes other than what they were built for.

I have not been a long-time resident of Alameda; in fact, i've only lived here for slightly over a year and have become very fond of the area. The tennis community is where I've found my home and I greatly appreciate and respect what this beautiful sport has given to all who live in the area. I have no grudge against the pickleball community, only that I think clear cut rules need to be put in place to ensure the tennis community can be able to play without having constant run-ins or worries with them. Courts on the island are already few and far between, and it would be in the best interest of everyone to post clear signs.

Lastly, if you have time, i have attached a summary of an incident that I had with a pickleball that escalated to a full-on investigation with a respected government organization (unnamed). If you could please read as I believe that incidents like this are likely to continue happening if this goes unaddressed. My number is also included below; please reach out to me if you have any follow-up questions. I appreciate your time/consideration in this matter.

Kind Regards,
John Hu
609.598.1286
--
~Yuexing (John) Hu
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" ~Philippians 4:13 I had two separate confrontations with a man at Washington Park. The first incident occurred approximately five weeks ago. I was scheduled to play tennis at the park in Alameda, CA. Upon arriving at the courts, I saw that all of the courts were occupied except for one, where I noticed a gentleman playing pickleball with a lady, presumably his wife. There was also a stroller with a baby inside on the court. I kindly approached them and explained the Washington Park tennis policy; that the courts are exclusively for tennis use. My exact words were something along the lines of, “Sir, with due respect, I wanted to let you know that these courts are reserved for tennis.

It’s posted on the sign at the front, and it’s also a town ordinance. There are many designated pickleball courts nearby, including Lincoln Park, about a five-minute drive away, and Bladium Sports Facility. No one will have an issue if you’re playing in the middle of the day when no one is waiting for a court, but when there are multiple people waiting to play tennis, tennis should take precedence.” He seemed unhappy, but I initially thought he understood. However, about 10 minutes later, they were still playing pickleball, so I politely reminded them of the policy. He muttered some foul language under his breath, stared me down, and then left the court. Although I felt uneasy, there was no physical altercation. This was our first and less severe interaction.

About a week later, I was at the courts in the afternoon, playing tennis with a friend. When we got on the court, I noticed the same man playing pickleball again with his wife and their baby stroller on the court. It was a busy time, with many people coming out to play tennis after work. I decided not to say anything, hoping someone else would address it, and continued warming up on the next court. In the middle of our warmup, the man approached me in a very confrontational manner, called me a “lying sack of [expletive],” and accused me of kicking him off the court the previous week. I again explained the tennis-only policy. His wife also joined in, claiming they couldn’t find any such policy. He continued to swear at me repeatedly. I offered him the contact information of Charlie, the president of the Tennis Coalition of Alameda, suggesting he reach out to discuss the policy. At one point, he made a homophobic slur towards me, which others on nearby courts could hear. Throughout the encounter, I kept my composure, calmly restating the policy and offering Charlie’s contact each time. The man eventually left when he noticed more people waiting for a court and attention being drawn to our situation. After he left, some people on the adjacent courts told me that I handled the situation well by de-escalating and not retaliating.

Interestingly, the man returned to the court about an hour later to apologize. While my friend and I were surprised, the apology didn’t seem genuine; it felt like something his wife made him do.

Later, I discovered that the man was a fellow member of a publicly respected organization. The realization that someone from such a respected institution could behave this way was shocking.

I’ve always believed in handling issues at the lowest level possible, but my intuition tells me this situation may warrant further action. I am concerned that this may not be the first or last time he uses such hateful language toward others. I can only hope that appropriate action will be taken to prevent others from experiencing this level of verbal abuse and intimidation.

From: Christine Kizziah
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 5:27:32 PM
Dear City
Council,
I am writing to request
the installation of
"Tennis Only - No
Pickleball" signs at
WAPA, Franklin,
Krusi, Longfellow, and
Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your
attention to this
important matter,
Christine Kizziah
From: Gary Tillman
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Tracy Jensen; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella; CityCouncil-List Cc: Drew Pitney Higginson
Subject: [EXTERNAL] No Pickleball sign at the Krusi Tennis Courts Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 5:22:09 PM
I would urge the city council to improve the signage currently at the Krusi tennis courts to make it clear that pickleball is not permitted on the Krusi tennis courts and that there are pickleball courts at Leydecker and Lincoln Park.

This type of definitive language would be a larger deterrent to persistent pickleball players and provide tennis players the appropriate language to request pickleball players to vacate the courts when appropriate.

Thank you,
Gary Tillman
2807 Otis Dr, Alameda, CA 94501
From: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 5:17:55 PM
Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft
Mayor, City of Alameda
510-747-4745
Begin forwarded message:

From: Lauren Blanchard <[email protected]>
Date: September 3, 2024 at 3:18:58 PM PDT
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>, City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts

Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

I actually live near San Antonio Park in Oakland where 4 courts were originally built, but due to the fact that my city has allowed those courts to decay into unrecognizable shape, WAPA is my closest court and I have found a vibrant community in Alameda. While playing tennis on Alameda Island, I often buy lunch and frequent other shops.

I observe that clear signage is needed at WAPA to prevent the ongoing and escalating conflicts between tennis and pickleball players, which have made it increasingly difficult—and potentially unsafe—for us to enjoy these courts. The situation has worsened over the past two years, and while we are fortunate that no one has been seriously injured, immediate action is necessary.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Lauren Blanchard
2001 18th Ave, Oakland, CA
From: Lauren Blanchard
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 3:18:58 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Lauren Blanchard
2001 18th Ave, Oakland, CA
From: charlie dewett
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk; Yibin Shen
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Tennis Only Signage agenda item # 10-C 2024-4312 Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 2:06:54 PM
Dear City Council,
On February 18, 2024, at approximately 12:30 pm, I was playing tennis with four others on Court 4 at WaPa. The courts were full, with at least two groups waiting to play. I repeatedly heard the sound of pickleball being played.

After about ten minutes, I paused my match and politely informed the group, “I’m sorry, but pickleball is unfortunately prohibited here at WaPa.”
There were three adults and an infant in a stroller present. Initially, one of the women responded that they had been told by the head of ARPD that they had every right to play there. I reiterated that WaPa was designated for tennis only. She again insisted that I was lying, claiming that the head of ARPD had given them permission to play. Her tone was rude and defensive.

Her husband, who was across the net, then yelled, “Get the f*** off our court before I beat your ass!” I was taken aback and said, “Excuse me?” He charged over, posturing as if he intended to hit me and made insulting remarks about my leggings. Saying do you have a vagina under there. We exchanged harsh words, and I told him that if he wanted to take it outside, we could settle it then. I refused to tolerate his threats and insults. Ultimately, I chose to walk away.

A week later, a friend and fellow player shared that he had experienced two altercations with a man over pickleball and sought my advice. I quickly realized it was the same individual involved in my earlier encounter. My friend, who is an officer in the Coast Guard, encountered this individual during lunch and confirmed his identity.

As a result of these incidents, the Coast Guard conducted a thorough investigation, during which a senior officer spoke with me for nearly an hour. Consequently, the individual involved was demoted in rank due to his abusive language and threatening behavior.

I believe that the ambiguity from ARPD leadership contributed to these altercations. If they had clearly stated that WaPa courts are for tennis only, it could have prevented this escalation. Instead, their lack of clarity fueled the aggression of individuals, leading to two police reports and the demotion of the individual involved.

It is my opinion ARPD leadership has not acted in the best interest of our community. They have created an environment of confusion and have not effectively communicated the rules. As civil servants, their role is to serve the citizens of Alameda, yet their actions seem contrary to this duty.

We urgently request that signage clearly indicates WaPa is a “Tennis Only” facility. Without this clarity, there is a risk of future physical altercations, and any resulting consequences would reflect poorly on ARPD leadership and the City of Alameda could be help liable for such behavior.

I implore the City Council to intervene and ensure that signage at WaPa and other city courts clearly states whether they are designated for tennis or pickleball. WaPa is home to over 400 tennis players, and we need your support.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Best regards,
Charlie Dewett
Founder member of ATC
Captain of WaPa 5.0, 4.5, 9.5, 9.0
From: Christina Syriani
To: CityCouncil-List
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Tennis Court Signage - City Council Agenda Item 10-C 2024-4312 Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 10:59:32 AM
Importance: High
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3. Clear signage is needed to avoid ongoing and escalating conflicts at the parks, which have made it increasingly difficult—and potentially unsafe—for us to enjoy these courts.

For the last 18 months, I have played (and will continue to play) tennis at these courts 2-3 times per week. I have noticed that parking is extremely limited at times, as is court space. It is simply impractical and detrimental to allow these tennis courts to be used for anything other than tennis. I have also courts inappropriately used for pickle ball and soccer. While I play both of those sports regularly, I would never want to use a tennis court to carry out those activities. The net requirements for pickle ball are different than tennis, and pickle ball players will often tamper with the nets to adjust it by 2 inches, without having the courtesy to adjust it back once they are finished playing. An inaccurate net height compromises the integrity of any sport. I have also seen the soccer players hanging and sitting on the tennis nets. This damages the nets and creates an unnecessary cost center for the city. In any event, the court lines are not drawn to accommodate pickleball, and the facility is entirely inappropriate for soccer.

I coach a recreational team through Alameda Soccer Club and I am well aware that there are fields throughout the island dedicated to soccer use only. This is because there is a shortage of soccer fields across the city, and dedicated fields are a necessity. Tennis is no different. This is a helpful precedent that should be carefully considered by the council as they vote on today's agenda item 10-C 2024-4312, “Consider Directing Staff to Implement and Enforce Pickleball Court Policies at Various Alameda Public Parks" I fully support the ask for a clear policy that designates these courts as "Tennis Only" to ensure safe and fair use for everyone. This will help protect the facilities and the well-being of the community by avoiding conflicts and ensuring that each sport has its own designated space.

Thank you for your attention to this matter,
Christina Syriani
From: Nico Grishkoff
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 9:52:37 AM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Nico Grishkoff
From: [email protected]
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Court Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 7:41:16 AM
Dear City Council,

I am writing to request the installation of “Tennis Only – No Pickleball” signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts.

Clear signage is urgently needed to prevent the ongoing and escalating conflicts between tennis and pickleball players, which have made it increasingly difficult and potentially unsafe for us to enjoy these courts. The situation has worsened over the past two years, and while we fortunate that no one has been seriously injured, immediate action is necessary.

This is my personal experience. Couple months ago on a Saturday morning at Leydecker court, I was with my family standing outside the empty far court, with my tennis equipment, reading a sign posted on the gate that indicated the courts were for pickleball on certain days of the week. I had to read it over and came to a conclusion that the court was not reserved for pickleball at that time. As I was about to enter the court thru the gate, a man on roller skates zoomed by me and skated to the bench and put his equipment down without acknowledging me or ask if I was going to use the court. Then soon after, a couple came into the court and started to set up the pickle ball net, again without acknowledging me. I was shocked at the discourtesy of these pickleball players and I chose not to start a confrontation.

We also ask that a clear policy be created that designates these courts as “Tennis Only” to ensure safe and fair use for everyone. This will help protect the well-being of both tennis and pickleball players by preventing conflicts and ensuring that each sport has its designated space.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,

David Yeung
From: Minh Cannon
To: City Clerk; CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 4:17:56 AM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

I captain a team out of Washington Park and we paid to reserve 3 courts for our match on Sunday, September 1st.

Pickleballers walked onto our court right after one of our matches had ended. One of our teammates walked over to let them know that these courts are tennis only but they did not want to hear it and shushed her away claiming they were taxpayers too.

We ask that a clear policy be created that designates these courts as "Tennis Only" to ensure safe and fair use for everyone.

This will help protect the well-being of both tennis and pickleball players by preventing conflicts and ensuring that each sport has its designated space.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Minh Cannon
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
From: Tim
To: CityCouncil-List
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 11:00:05 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Tim
From: Mark Neiman
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 10:02:35 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Clear signage is urgently needed to prevent the ongoing and escalating conflicts between tennis and pickleball players, which have made it increasingly difficult for us to enjoy these courts. The situation has worsened over the past two years, and immediate action is necessary.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Mark Neiman
From: Willie Hagans
To: City Clerk; Yibin Shen; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] ct: Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 9:14:26 PM
Dear City Council Members for the City of Alameda,
As a tennis player who has played and captain numerous USTA teams out of Washington Park, I (an active member of the Alameda Tennis Coalition - ATC) am also so appreciative of all the efforts by ARPD to resurface Washington Park and Krusi Park tennis courts, putting in new lights at those courts and now a new higher fence around the outside courts to prevent softballs from landing on our tennis courts at Washington Park. Job well done. ARPD also just recently put up new signage at Washington Park and that also is appreciated.

I personally think there’s only a few things left that need to be address. Most important is clear signage at Washington Park stating “Tennis only, No Pickleball”. I play a lot at Washington Park and have noticed more and more pickleball players coming out to use the Washington Park tennis courts. One group saying on a Sunday, they had a permit to play from 2 PM to 3 PM on court #1 to play pickleball. Say what? Permit? Pickleball? Had to ask them to move to court #5 so our guys would stop harassing them. Told our guys we should all call up ARPD on Monday morning to find out what’s going on. Just last week I was at the courts when 10 pickleball players showed up to play at Washington Park. Wanted to say something but decided that we should wait until there’s clear signage saying “Tennis Only - No Pickleball”. Once those sign are up for sure I will confront the players.

Washington Park is a very busy tennis park. Many people don’t know that we have at times as many as 8 USTA teams per season (four month period) playing out of Washington Park. Those teams consist of close to 20 players on each team at a time. Each team match only use 6 to 8 players. So 12 of those players will need to practice during the week to stay sharp. During normal seasons that is tough on the locals to find hitting time with so many USTA teams and those team players needing practices but we make it work. Now we have a problem. Pickleball players wanting to use our Washington Park courts. We don’t have enough courts for the local tennis players, how are we going to allow pickle ball players on our tennis courts? Please put up signs “Tennis only - No Pickleball” at Washington Park immediately.

In regards to Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow, it's critical that "tennis only - no pickleball" signs be posted asap. For the last month until early May the Alameda High schools have been using all courts (#1-#6) at Washington Park (Alameda High School) on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 4 PM to 6 PM and Wednesday from 3 PM to 5 PM and all three courts at Krusi Park (St. Joseph High School) from 3 PM- 5 PM Monday thru Fridays. So where and when do the local players play in Alameda from 4 PM to 6 PM? One guy said he’s going to Mervyn Morris in San Lorenzo between those times. Seriously? So with the High Schools and the USTA teams with matches and practices there’s barely enough playing time for the locals to play on our Alameda tennis courts. How are we going to allow pickleball players to use our courts? I’m the captain of our Washington Park 8.5 combo team and I have decided to tell our guys not to practice at Washington Park, that we should to go and practice at Krusi park during the weeknights to leave the Washington Park courts open for the local players. That being said Krusi courts and Washington Park courts will be busy all week from 4 PM to 10 PM. Please no pickleball players allowed during those times. Therefore we really need signage saying “Tennis Only - No Pickleball” not only at Washington Park but at all of the tennis courts in Alameda so our locals won’t have to drive to San Lorenzo to play tennis. We actually need more tennis courts to accommodate all the new tennis players and the new tennis players that want to play USTA league tennis.
“Tennis only - No Pickleball” at all Alameda tennis courts especially at Washington Park ASAP!!!
Willie Hagans
Mayor - Washington Park Tennis Courts
Captain - Washington Park CM8.5A
Co-Captain - Washington Park CM7.5A
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
From: KWOK YIN CHAN
To: CityCouncil-List
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Request to Prevent Public Tennis Courts to Dual Use for Pickleball Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 6:00:13 PM
Dear City Council,
Just the past Saturday we have found paddle ball players using the practicing walls at the Washington Park. Please see attached photos. They appeared to be friendly and polite but not all pickle or paddle ballers react well to be reminded of the tennis-only policy.

Yours truly
Kwok Yin Chan

On Aug 29, 2024, at 22:04, KWOK YIN CHAN <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

I have negative experience with pickleball players who used courts in Washington Park. One time we were hosting another team from an East Bay city for a USTA contest when several pickleball players were occupying the neighboring court, making disturbing noises and weren’t willing to leave. Another time I found tapes on the tennis a court surface as a pickleball court lines.

Allowing pickleball players to use tennis courts under unclear policies create conflicts and could cause safety hazards. Personally I have come across multiple times that police were being called to resolve dispute of court usages. Would the City allow baseball pitch be used by soccer players? We also ask that a clear policy be created that designates these courts as "Tennis Only" to ensure safe and fair use for everyone. This will help protect the well-being of both tennis and pickleball players by preventing conflicts and ensuring that each sport has its designated space.

Last but not least, I am dismayed that ARPD has shown very little interest in working with volunteer representatives of the Alameda Racket Alliance. These individuals spend endless hours organizing the racket ball community. I myself, and many of my friends, find a strong community around the courts and parks, and are very thankful to these volunteers.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Yours truly
Kwok Yin Chan

From: Paige Ivey
To: City Clerk; CityCouncil-List
Cc: Kristin Fairfield
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Requesting “tennis only” signs at Alameda tennis courts Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 5:59:09 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Pickleball play is LOUD—each individual ball strike can produce 120-130 decibels. For comparison, fireworks and cars backfiring produce about 120 decibels. A gunshot is 130- 165 decibels, depending on the weapon caliber. So several pickleball players can and will create quite a din! Tennis by contrast is a much quieter sport, with noise strictly regulated and in fact
disallowed under the rules of the game: loud noises during play are designated as “hindrances” and punishable by loss of points.

So how can pickleball and tennis realistically share adjacent courts, given the inherent volume of pickleball? The negative effect of the pickleball noise on tennis play cannot be overstated, because it literally makes playing tennis impossible. If pickleball players are allowed to “share” Alameda tennis courts, it’s not too hard to predict the outcome: tennis players will be driven off of the very courts that they have helped to create and maintain over many decades.

There is plenty of unused space on Alameda for pickleball enthusiasts to build their own dedicated facilities for the game they love, just as the greater Alameda tennis community has done. There really is no need for pickleball players to aggressively attempt to take over the few dedicated tennis courts on the island, especially given the relative numbers of tennis players to pickleball players: there are still roughly 10 regular tennis players for every 1 regular pickleball player, and tennis is growing every year. Where will the tennis players of Alameda go if they lose their courts to pickleball? Therefore, I’m asking that a clear policy be created that designates these courts as "Tennis Only" to ensure safe and fair use for everyone. This will help protect the well-being of both tennis and pickleball players by preventing conflicts and ensuring that each sport has its designated space.
.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter!
Sincerely,
Paige Ivey
Pearl St., Alameda
From: Steve K
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Cc: Kristin Fairfield
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for “Tennis Only-No Pickelball” signs and policy at alameda courts Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 4:38:29 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of “Tennis Only - No Pickleball” signs at Washington Park (WAPA), Franklin, Longfellow and Leydecker courts 2/3.

I believe this issue is a matter of respect. In these turbulent times, people seemed to have lost sight of respect for one another. When we are playing sports, we are there to have fun and take our minds away from the stress of work and life. There’s so much conflict in the news, with our neighbors and at work. We take for granted that as humans, we need to release all that with our hobbies and sports. I respect pickleball players just as much as tennis players. I personally play both. Pickleball players must respect the rules of tennis courts just as much as tennis players must respect the rules of pickleball courts. Imagine if either tennis players or pickleball players took over local basketball courts. We could put temporary nets up on the basketball courts and play either tennis or pickleball. Without boundaries, could you imagine the conflict we’d have in our community? It’s only a matter of time before violence and/or threat of violence take over our hobbies and sports. I would hate to see Alameda in the news in such light. I think it’s just a matter of time unless something is done. Let’s prevent a tennis vs pickleball war from happening. Respect each sports rules of court use by having very clear and prominent signs in each tennis court that tennis courts are only for tennis and not pickleball.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Steve Kang
From: Dorian West
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 3:04:37 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

We also ask that a clear policy be created that designates these courts as "Tennis Only" to ensure safe and fair use for everyone. This will help protect the well-being of both tennis and pickleball players by preventing conflicts and ensuring that each sport has its designated space. It is wholly unreasonable for the ARPD and/or the City to expect the public, i.e., tennis players, to try and enforce the tennis only policy at WAPA. Individuals paying pickleball are not going to listen to members of the public. The message MUST come from ARPD and/or the City.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Dorian West Blair
From: Carol Arpaci
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 2:44:04 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,

Carol North Arpaci

Carol N. Arpaci, PsyD
1151 Harbor Bay Pkwy #137
Alameda, CA 94502
510-333-2103
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication and its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws, including the Electronic Communication Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of this communication.

From: Mike Tsang
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 2:44:00 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Basketball courts are for Basketball.

Volleyball courts are for Volleyball.

Baseball fields are for Baseball.

Tennis courts are for Tennis.

Yes, Pickleball is getting more popular, but they need their own dedicated space and courts.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Mike Tsang
From: charlie dewett
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk; Yibin Shen
Cc: Kristin Fairfield
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 1:47:39 PM

Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

I have played at these courts 3-4 times per week since 2009, both recreationally and for USTA leagues. The courts have become increasingly crowded over the years even before introducing a new sport such as pickleball to them.

There are not enough courts to support the tennis players that have used these courts for years while trying to also accommodate a whole new population of avid pickle ballers. Not to mention that playing tennis next to a pickle ball court is a very distracting and unpleasant experience due to the loud clanking of the ball bouncing. I feel that allowing pickleball on the tennis courts would have a very negative impact on the tennis community in Alameda.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Charlie Dewett
Founding member of ATC
Captain of WaPa 5.0, 4.5, 9.5, 9.0

Sent from my iPhone
From: Kristin Fairfield
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Cc: Charlie Dewett; Ed Setton; Kristin Fairfield
Subject: [EXTERNAL] We urge City Council to act now-“Tennis Only, No Pickleball” signs on EVERY tennis court Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 12:41:44 PM
Dear City Council,
This Sunday, 9/1, during our USTA ladies' 6.5 combo tennis match at 3:30 PM (WAPA), we encountered issues with pickleball players on the courts we had rented for our match. Two of our matches finished, but the third, which would determine the overall winner, was disrupted by the loud noise of pickleball play on court two. It was a tense moment for our team, and the distraction was significant.

I approached the couple and their children playing pickleball and informed them that they could play at Lincoln and Leydecker courts. They told me they were fine and were going to play pickleball at WAPA. When I informed them that WAPA was a Tennis Only, No Pickleball facility, they reiterated that they would do what they wanted. The signs that merely suggest playing pickleball elsewhere were completely ineffective, and the pickleball play did affect our match.

As per our agreement in our last meeting with ARPD, I knew that I could call the ARPD after-hours number for assistance with any pickleball players on the tennis courts. I contacted ARPD’s after-hours number, and Cesar, an ARPD employee, arrived about an hour later. By then, our match had finished, and the couple had left, but I explained the situation to him. Shortly after Cesar left, another group began playing pickleball on a different court.

Cesar returned and politely asked them to leave, but they refused, arguing that since no tennis players were on that court, they could use it.

As an ARPD representative, Cesar agreed with me that clear, prominent signs stating "Tennis Only, No Pickleball" on every court would be more effective than the current vague signage. The one sign that suggests pickleball is allowed at Leydecker and Lincoln is essentially useless.

When hosting USTA matches, "the home team is responsible for providing a suitable environment for play, which includes ensuring that the courts are properly prepared and that any external factors, such as noise, are minimized to maintain a fair and focused match environment. This also means providing new tennis balls for the match and ensuring the visiting team has adequate facilities." Disruptive activities from non-participants, like pickleball players, must be addressed as their noise is totally distracting and makes it difficult to hear calls properly during play.

We conducted a survey of some of our community—having little time to prepare and then learning that individual emails were a better way to advocate—and the results were telling. Out of the 93 respondents, 72% identified as USTA members, indicating a strong presence of competitive players in the community. An overwhelming 99% of respondents support the installation of "Tennis Only, No Pickleball" signs at the courts, highlighting the community's desire for clear and enforceable rules. Additionally, 60% of respondents are willing to support advocacy efforts, such as writing emails, volunteering, or attending meetings, demonstrating significant engagement in the cause. However, only 12% believe that there are currently enough tennis courts in Alameda to meet the community's demand, underscoring the need for better resources and facilities.

Despite our continued efforts over the past three years, ARPD has not taken our concerns about the signage and the problems we have with pickleball players seriously. The burden of managing confrontations with pickleball players was unfairly placed on us, leading to volatile incidents that could have been avoided with proper and timely action from ARPD. Now, ARPD leadership is delaying further action, stating that it is "standard practice that any Recreation and Parks policy changes that impact the public are brought to the Recreation and Parks Commission for approval." They plan to consider these issues on the October 10 agenda, which includes making the Leydecker pickleball pilot program ongoing and deciding whether to place signage at all tennis courts in the city that are not officially striped for pickleball.

ARPD leadership is also claiming that there has not been a public process for determining whether tennis courts should be reserved for tennis only at Krusi, Franklin, Longfellow, and Leydecker courts 2/3. However, there have already been two different public processes and numerous surveys regarding tennis and pickleball. The first was in February 2021 to determine if court 4 at WAPA should be converted to a pickleball court, and again from March 2023 to December 2023, there was a public process to determine if Krusi was a suitable location for pickleball. This process included outreach, public meetings, surveys, and a decision based on community input. ARPD is now denying that any of this constitutes a “public process,” despite the existence of numerous emails, meeting notes, surveys, and the significant effort by many people to have their opinions heard. Several documents and related emails have not been made available in the public folder as of 11:00 AM on Monday, September 2nd, which is the Clerk’s responsibility, though there may be challenges in obtaining all of the documents due to time constraints.

I believe that the Krusi neighbors will also confirm this, as I was present at those meetings where they clearly opposed pickleball being allowed at Krusi. The claim by some pickleball players that "it's happening anyway and there's nothing you can do to stop it" does not mean we should abandon efforts to establish and enforce proper signage.

Furthermore, the Alameda Tennis Coalition (ATC) has volunteered to assist ARPD and support our tennis community over the past three years. It is frustrating that ARPD does not recognize us as a legitimate community voice and claims not to have received any complaints about pickleball, except from one person—me. This is because people have been directing their complaints to the three ATC representatives (myself, Charlie Dewett, and Ed Setton) instead of to ARPD, which we believed was helpful. Moving forward, we will direct all complaints to ARPD directly. We will continue to do our best, but it is clear that ARPD has not worked with us in good faith.

Moreover, before Director Wooldridge left ARPD, we had worked on a set of rules together, which were supposed to be printed in November 2021. We continued to request these rules until they were finally posted by new ARPD leadership (July 2024), who decided to leave off the very first rule of "tennis courts are for tennis play only" on purpose, telling us that those rules were just “suggestions.” The failure to post these rules in a timely manner has only exacerbated the tensions and conflicts on the courts. It's imperative that ARPD takes immediate action to correct this situation and post "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3 immediately.

We need signs that say “Tennis Only, No Pickleball” on EVERY tennis court, not just one as ARPD proposed at WAPA. How can we ask pickleball players to leave the courts when the rules aren’t clear or even visible? Without clearly stated rules, it’s difficult to argue against their behavior.

These incidents, along with the overwhelming survey results, clearly demonstrate that the lack of clear, enforceable signage has not only caused significant disruptions but has also created a dangerous and irresponsible situation on our courts. The ongoing failure to address these issues over the past three years has led to real harm—putting people in stressful, volatile situations and even compromising their safety. This continued neglect has allowed tensions to escalate unnecessarily, causing damage that could have been prevented with proper action. It is imperative that ARPD immediately installs "Tennis Only, No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3. These signs are essential to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone using the courts.

We urge City Council to act now before more harm is done.

Thank you,
Kristin Fairfield
From: Obadiah Butterworth
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Washington Park tennis courts
Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 10:23:09 AM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

The situation has worsened over the past two years, and while we are fortunate that no one has been seriously injured, immediate action is necessary.
[Insert your experience with pickleball incidents here, if any.] We also ask that a clear policy be created that designates these courts as "Tennis Only" to ensure safe and fair use for everyone. This will help protect the well-being of both tennis and pickleball players by preventing conflicts and ensuring that each sport has its designated space.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Obadiah Butterworth
From: [email protected]
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Cc: Kristin Fairfield
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 9:43:17 AM
Dear City Council:

I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,
Lynne Harrington
6239 Racine Street
Oakland, CA 94609
From: Susan Weeks
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Clear Policy at Alameda Tennis Courts Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 9:18:32 AM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

I also ask that a clear policy be created that designates these courts as "Tennis Only" to ensure fair use for everyone. This will help protect the well-being of both tennis and pickleball players by preventing conflicts and ensuring that each sport has its designated space.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Susan Weeks
From: Larry Carter
To: CityCouncil-List
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Subject: Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Sunday, September 1, 2024 7:53:35 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Larry P Carter
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android
From: Ed Setton
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk; Yibin Shen
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Sunday, September 1, 2024 7:36:56 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Clear signage is urgently needed to prevent the ongoing and escalating conflicts between tennis and pickleball players, which have made it increasingly difficult—and potentially unsafe—for us to enjoy these courts. The situation has worsened over the past two years, and while we are fortunate that no one has been seriously injured, immediate action is necessary.
[Insert your experience with pickleball incidents here, if any.] We also ask that a clear policy be created that designates these courts as "Tennis Only" to ensure safe and fair use for everyone. This will help protect the well-being of both tennis and pickleball players by preventing conflicts and ensuring that each sport has its designated space.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
--
Edgar Setton
EJS Construction & Development
2601 Blanding Ave C399
Alameda, CA 94501
(415) 254-3023
Lic #772529
From: Stephanie Chang
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Sunday, September 1, 2024 7:32:03 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Stephanie Chang
From: Jann King
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Sunday, September 1, 2024 7:16:41 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Clear signage is urgently needed to prevent the ongoing and escalating conflicts between tennis and pickleball players, which have made it increasingly difficult—and potentially unsafe—for us to enjoy these courts. The situation has
worsened over the past two years, and while we are fortunate that no one has been seriously injured, immediate action is necessary.
[Insert your experience with pickleball incidents here, if any.] We also ask that a clear policy be created that designates these courts as "Tennis Only" to ensure safe and fair use for everyone. This will help protect the well-being of both tennis and pickleball players by preventing conflicts and ensuring that each sport has its designated space.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Jann King
From: Marlon T
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024 7:30:21 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Lauren Blanchard
From: Marlon T
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024 7:22:13 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Marlon Tan
From: North/Arpaci
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024 5:14:26 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,


Muhittin Arpaci
From: Deidre Abrons
To: City Clerk; CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024 4:48:33 AM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Deidre Abrons
Alameda Resident
**This message is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by email. Thank you for your assistance.**
On Mar 16, 2023, at 8:43 AM, Matt Nowlen <[email protected]> wrote:

Kris%n-

I am moving Amy to Bcc to drop her oﬀ email chain.

Dave and I are looking to meet with you next week at ARPD oﬃce to make sure we are on same page. Can we meet Tues the 21st at 10 am?

I want to clarify that the outreach is strictly looking for input about stripping a few of the courts with mul%ple lines to include pickle ball. We are not looking to remove or convert any tennis courts. Both Franklin and Krusi are slated for resurfacing this summer while weather permits. I will look into geMng more informa%on on some of the other pending items you men%on and we can discuss further at our mee%ng. Let me know if you have any ques%ons or concerns.

Thanks

MaQ Nowlen
Interim Recrea%on Services Manager
2226 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501
(510)-227-9608
[email protected]

From: Kris%n Fairﬁeld [mailto:kris%nfairﬁ[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 7:04 AM
To: MaQ Nowlen <[email protected]>; Amy Wooldridge
<[email protected]>
Cc: David Leimsieder <[email protected]>; Ed
🎾
🎾 SeQon
<edgar [email protected]>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Following Up

Hi Matt and David,

I've copied Amy here as well because some information needs to be exchanged.

Thanks for looking into changing the time of the meeting. I'm not sure what you mean by an "Outreach" meeting. Can you clarify? Are you presenting this conversion of Krusi courts to the public? When you mentioned you "owe me an email," is this the email I'm missing?

Several months ago, our last meeting with Amy was about acquiring more tennis courts, clarifying the tennis court use rules (which still need to be posted at all courts), creating solutions to court rentals, and revising our tennis court rental method.

The last time we had issues with the pickleball community two years ago, it was decided by the City Council and ARPD that no other tennis courts in Alameda would be 'converted" to pickleball court use. When Amy suggested painting pickleball lines on Krusi, we were open to the possibility because we discussed pursuing additional tennis courts for our tennis community.

Since then, at the Parks Commission meeting in Jan, Amy said she needs more time/resources to pursue the College of Alameda or tennis courts, which she didn't have, so this changes things.

There's been a lot of changes that we have not been informed of, so hopefully, we can now know more.

Also, Krusi courts were supposed to be resurfaced along with Franklin, but there has been no communication lately about this.

I appreciate your wanting to "move this along," but we haven't discussed converting these courts with our community. The thought of losing three tennis courts and gaining no new courts is precisely the opposite of what our community wants and needs.

Thanks,
Kristin

On Mar 15, 2023, at 6:15 AM, Matt Nowlen <[email protected]> wrote:

Kristin-

I will look into shifting the timing of the meeting. However, I’d like to keep this moving forward. We can also look to get together aside from the outreach either a date/time before or after. People will also be able to email out to let us know their support or concerns as well for this topic. Let me know what your thoughts are.

Thanks

Matt

Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 14, 2023, at 4:50 PM, Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the email.

Copying Ed on this as well. We are both reps for the ATC.

Unfortunately I am unable to meet at that time on Thurs.

I work afternoon/early evenings Tues-Thurs starting at 2pm.

I can meet in the mornings M-F or Mon/Fri afternoons.

Any chance of changing that meeting time?

Ed and I would be happy to fill David in on what we've been working on together and also on our most recent tennis community needs.

It would be easier for us to meet than for me to type everything out in an email.

Let us know.

Thanks Matt!!

:)
Kristin

On Mar 14, 2023, at 1:47 PM, Matt Nowlen <[email protected]> wrote:

Kris%n-

I am reaching out to let you know we plan on having an outreach mee%ng at 3pm on the 23rd to see about stripping a few pickle ball courts over top of tennis courts at Krusi. The mee%ng will be held on site. I also want to get you an update for April Rec and Parks mee%ng since our March mee%ng was pushed out. We plan on having our budget update and Tennis/Pickle ball on the April agenda. Do you mind sharing some of the topics that you have expressed prior so Dave our Ac%ng Director can best prepare for the mee%ng? Let me know if you have any ques%ons or concerns.

Thanks

MaQ Nowlen
Parks Manager
2226 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501
(510)-227-9608
[email protected]

From: Kris%n Fairﬁeld [mailto:kris%nfairﬁ[email protected]] Sent: Friday, February 3, 2023 1:11 PM
To: Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>
Cc: Ed
🎾
🎾 SeQon <edgar [email protected]>; charlie deweQ
<[email protected]>; MaQ Nowlen <[email protected]>; David Leimsieder <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Following Up

Hi Amy,

Ok!
Thanks,
:)
K
Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 30, 2023, at 12:34 PM, MaQ Nowlen <[email protected]> wrote:

Kristen-

Thanks for all your ques%ons and points. The ones I have answers to are included in below email. We are bringing topic to next recommission in next mee%ng by the way.

Let me know if you have any ques%ons.

Thanks

MaQ Nowlen
Interim Recrea%on Services Manager
2226 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501
(510)-227-9608
[email protected]

From: Kris%n Fairﬁeld [mailto:kris%nfairﬁ[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2023 10:25 AM
To: MaQ Nowlen <[email protected]>; David Leimsieder <[email protected]>; edgar [email protected]; Charlie 🎾 DewiQ
<[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ques%ons

Hi Matt and Dave,
We are getting together with the Pickleball players tomorrow to meet and brainstorm some ideas.

I have a couple of questions.

Can the fences be extended higher at Krusi Park?
No
Have you looked into any sound treatment materials before? Yes
When Ed and I at our meeting suggested allowing the Pickleball players to occupy all three courts, you objected. What was your reasoning for only allowing the Pickleball players to occupy one court?
I would not say it was objected. Was not considered to help minimize the noise for neighbors.

The Pickleball site at Alameda Point. Is it true That it is just a five-year lease? One of the Pickleball ladies mentioned they were to come up with 100 K for the site??? Not sure what site your talking about. However Estuary park would is not held to a 5 year lease term.

I’m asking because I wonder if it would be better to fortify Krusi and allow pickleball to be a Krusi for certain hours of the day but let them occupy all three courts during those times.

One of the neighbors, willing to meet with us, requested to meet with me first. Once the Pickleball folks and the ATC have some ideas, we will ask the neighbors to participate in some test runs. We want to alert the neighbors and put up signs reserving the courts for test runs. Can you help us with this?
Not at this %me.

Also, have you heard anything from Otis's school?
No

On Mar 30, 2023, at 1:51 PM, Matt Nowlen <[email protected]> wrote:

Kris%n-

You are referring to two separate sites. First one is second phase of Estuary park and this already funded and moving forward.

The other loca%on your referring to is near the Hornet and has many challenges around it as you men%on in your email below.

Thanks

MaQ Nowlen
Interim Recrea%on Services Manager
2226 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501
(510)-227-9608
[email protected]

From: Kris%n Fairﬁeld [mailto:kris%nfairﬁ[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2023 1:31 PM
To: MaQ Nowlen <[email protected]>
Cc: David Leimsieder <[email protected]>; edgar [email protected]; Charlie 🎾
DewiQ <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Ques%ons

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the speedy reply.

I am only aware of one new Pickleball site, which is at Alameda Point. The one you mentioned in our meeting. That is the new one that is also shared by a new basketball court, yes?

Is the Alameda Point site the same site that the Pickleball players were talking about raising 100 K themselves, but the deal was it could be lost five years when the lease was up???

Is the Alameda Point site lease up in five years as well?

I am not familiar with the estuary Pickleball project.??

You mentioned in our meeting that the Alameda Point Pickleball courts were through the first phase.

The Pickleball players mentioned that it was windy there. Might it be better to fortify Krusi instead of investing in something that is in an area that the pickle ball players do not want to play in or in an area where the lease will be up in five years?

Thanks!!
:)
K

Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 30, 2023, at 12:34 PM, Matt Nowlen <[email protected]> wrote:

Kristen-

Thanks for all your ques%ons and points. The ones I have answers to are included in below email. We are bringing topic to next recommission in next mee%ng by the way.

Let me know if you have any ques%ons.

Thanks

MaQ Nowlen
Interim Recrea%on Services Manager
2226 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501
(510)-227-9608
[email protected]

From: Kris%n Fairﬁeld [mailto:kris%nfairﬁ[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2023 10:25 AM
To: MaQ Nowlen <[email protected]>; David Leimsieder <[email protected]>; edgar [email protected]; Charlie 🎾DewiQ
<[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ques%ons

Hi Matt and Dave,
We are getting together with the Pickleball players tomorrow to meet and brainstorm some ideas.

I have a couple of questions.

I’m asking because I wonder if it would be better to fortify Krusi and allow pickleball to be a Krusi for certain hours of the day but let them occupy all three courts during those times.

Also, have you heard anything from Otis's school?
No

Thanks so much,
Kristin

Thanks!!
Kristin

Sent from my iPhone
<Estuary Phase 2.pdf><Hornet ﬁeld.pdf>
Thanks so much,
Kristin

Thanks!!
Kristin

Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 21, 2023, at 2:14 PM, David Leimsieder <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Teri,

Thanks again for reaching out. I wanted to conﬁrm and clarify a couple items so we are all on the same page.

• It is our intent to meet with Krusi Park neighbors in the upcoming week (poten%ally following week) to hear their comments and concerns, and then we will work towards facilita%ng a mee%ng with all stakeholders in the next two – three weeks. • We may be able to brief commissioners about the mee%ngs staﬀ are having with various stakeholders, however due to constraints of the Brown Act (guidelines for public/ legisla%ve bodies) we are not able to call a vote or ask for recommenda%ons outside of a formal mee%ng.
• We are indeed on the same page about the test phase, and hope to get some direc%on fairly quickly about this subject.

Ul%mately we are all looking to ﬁnd reasonable solu%ons that are considerate of all par%es involved. I appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm and commitment to partnership on this issue. I will be in touch soon about the next follow-up mee%ng with neighbors. Please have a great weekend everyone.

Respectully,

<image001.png>
Dave J. Leimsieder (he/his/him)
Ac%ng Director, Recrea%on & Parks
City of Alameda - Recrea%on & Park Department
2226 Santa Clara Ave | Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 747-7580 (Oﬃce) | (510) 871-1890 (Cell)
[email protected]
www.alamedaca.gov/recrea%on
Facebook: @playARPD

From: Teri Rose <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2023 1:01 PM
To: David Leimsieder <[email protected]>; MaQ Nowlen <[email protected]>; Kris%n Fairﬁeld <kris%nfairﬁ[email protected]>; Eddie Metairie <[email protected]>; Rod Harris <[email protected]>; Jean Melgar <jmelgar [email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Mee%ng With Neighbors

Hi Dave & Matt,

Thank you so much for meeting with us yesterday. We really appreciate the time, effort and thought you have put into this process and fully appreciated the opportunity to present our ideas.

I wanted to reiterate the next steps and recap our meeting.

You will try to set up a meeting with the neighbors and us next week so we can be prepared for the 5/25 Recreation Commission Meeting. This will be our first "task force" meeting so we can work as one with the noise concerns of the neighbors and give us the opportunity to show the neighbors we want to be supportive of their needs in addition to our wanting to play at Krusi Park.

We discussed taping off six temporary courts at Krusi for a test period of at least three weeks. If we have time, you will try to get it to the recreation commission before the May 25 meeting so we can begin sooner than the May 25 meeting or we will begin the test phase (assuming the commission agrees.)

We are in agreement to get the test phase done as soon as possible so that the courts can be resurfaced and lined for double use (tennis and pickleball.)

I think I have included everything.

Thanks again and we look forward to meeting with you and the neighbors to make this workable for everyone. We look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Teri Rose
On Apr 27, 2023, at 10:39 AM, Teri Rose <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Dave and Matt,
I hope this finds you both well. I have attached the proposal we would like to submit to you for dual lined tennis and pickleball courts at Krusi Park. It recaps much of what we discussed at our meeting last week. We have left out how we might implement the actual noise levels (some of this I would imagine would come as a result of meeting with the neighbors.) This proposal has also been reviewed by the Alameda Tennis Coalition.

I am hoping you have had or have a meeting with the neighbors on the calendar.

At the April Recreation Commission meeting it sounded like there were three tasks given out before the next meeting in May.

1. Form a task force of neighbors, Alameda Pickleball, Alameda Tennis Coalition and ARPD
to study how to best implement dual play at Krusi Park.

2. Look at alternate sights in Alameda for Pickleball

3. Report back to the Recreation Commission at the May meeting.

We explored all possible alternatives for new courts at our last meeting( we all agreed that anywhere we would have dedicated courts is cost prohibitive) we met with you and have created a way to implement dual play at Krusi park and you are meeting with the neighbors. I think we should try to meet as a task force as we discussed before the next Recreation Commission meeting in May so we can say we fulfilled their requests. It seems important that we are all in the same room and heard so we can best come up with mutual solutions.

Thanks so much and we look forward to hearing from you.

Teri Rose
Alameda Pickleball
<PROPOSED STUDY OF DUAL TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL AT KRUSI PARK 2.docx> On May 17, 2023, at 3:42 PM, David Leimsieder <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Kristin,
We are all conﬁrmed. Thank you.
-Dave
Sent from my iPhone
On May 17, 2023, at 3:37 PM, Kristin Fairﬁeld <kristinfairﬁ[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Dave,
Just making sure that we are now all conﬁrmed for meeting tomorrow at 1:30 PM.

Thx
:)
K
Sent from my iPhone
On May 17, 2023, at 2:27 PM, Eddie Metairie <[email protected]> wrote:

I’ll be there too.

Thank you
Eddie
On May 17, 2023, at 2:12 PM, Kristin Fairﬁeld <kristinfairﬁ[email protected]> wrote:

Ok-tomorrow at 1:30pm.

I’ll be there.

Please conﬁrm then.
:)
K
Sent from my iPhone
On May 17, 2023, at 1:38 PM, Teri Rose <[email protected]> wrote:

I will be there.

Sent from my iPhone
On May 17, 2023, at 1:30 PM, David Leimsieder <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Kris%n,

We can try for early next week and see what ﬂexibility the neighbors have, unfortunately this is the only %me we have been able to conﬁrm with the local neighbors this week.

-Dave

From: Kris%n Fairﬁeld <kris%nfairﬁ[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 1:26 PM
To: David Leimsieder <[email protected]>
Cc: Teri Rose <[email protected]>; MaQ Nowlen <[email protected]>; Eddie Metairie <[email protected]>; Rod Harris <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Next Mee%ng/Proposed Trial Period For Krusi Park

That’s not the best %me for me but I could make it work. I had requested ayer 4 PM.

Can we do 2:30pm?
Thx
K
Sent from my iPhone
On May 17, 2023, at 1:11 PM, David Leimsieder <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello there,

So we just got a quick response from the neighbors. Can any of you make it tomorrow at 1:30PM? I think an hour would allow enough %me for all of us to discuss. Please let us know if this can work for all of you? We would like to meet at the ARPD oﬃces. Thanks.

-Dave

From: Kris%n Fairﬁeld <kris%nfairﬁ[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 1:04 PM
To: David Leimsieder <[email protected]>
Cc: Teri Rose <[email protected]>; MaQ Nowlen <[email protected]>; Eddie Metairie <[email protected]>; Rod Harris <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Next Mee%ng/Proposed Trial Period For Krusi Park

Ok-sounds good!
Thx
:)
Kris%n
Sent from my iPhone
On May 17, 2023, at 12:59 PM, David Leimsieder <[email protected]> wrote:

Good Ayernoon,

We are currently in communica%on with neighbors. If you can please keep %me available tomorrow and on Friday morning, that would be appreciated. I will reach back out once we have a conﬁrmed day and %me from the neighbors.

-Dave

From: Kris%n Fairﬁeld <kris%nfairﬁ[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 11:47 AM
To: David Leimsieder <[email protected]>
Cc: Teri Rose <[email protected]>; MaQ Nowlen <[email protected]>; Eddie Metairie <[email protected]>; Rod Harris <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Next Mee%ng/Proposed Trial Period For Krusi Park

Hi Dave,

Wondering if you’ve had a chance to review what we’ve sent? Also, not sure if you got my email (below).

I can also meet Friday morning if that is beQer .

Thanks
:)
Kris%n

On May 12, 2023, at 8:47 AM, Kris%n Fairﬁeld <kris%nfairﬁ[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Dave,

Thank you for responding and acknowledging the work we’ve been doing. We are happy with our ini%al ideas.

I would very much like to be at our next mee%ng, but I am leaving next Friday (May 19).

If we could set up a mee%ng now for next week, that would be most helpful. I can meet Wednesday 5/17 (any%me) or Thurs 5/18 any%me ayer 4pm.

I understand you need to review what we’ve sent you. So let us know.

As we discussed-since the courts need to be resurfaced soon, we planned on having this trial begin the ﬁrst week of June coming up before we know it!!

Thanks
:)
Kris%n

Sent from my iPhone
On May 12, 2023, at 8:21 AM, David Leimsieder <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Teri,

Thanks for following up. I am out of the oﬃce un%l next Tuesday, but I wanted to conﬁrm a couple things for you. The next commission mee%ng is conﬁrmed for the 25th. Secondly, we s%ll would like to have a mee%ng to discuss the trial with some of you, and some of the neighbors of Krusi Park. Also, I want to acknowledge and thank you for all of the work you have put into everything. MaQ and I will review, and we will follow up with you all early next week. Have a great weekend.

-Dave

Sent from my iPhone
On May 12, 2023, at 1:55 AM, Teri Rose <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Dave & Matt,

I hope this finds you both well. Is there confirmation yet on the May 25th date for the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting?

Kristen, Eddie and I met last week to draft a proposed trial period to test the noise levels at Krusi Park. We are hoping this can take place over a four day period which includes morning, afternoon and evening play on weekdays and weekends to get a good idea if and how the sound carries to the neighboring houses at Krusi Park. Please see the attached document where we outline the proposed study. You will see we will conduct a survey as well and hope to draw in comments from neighbors, community members , softball spectators and park guests. We would love to discuss this with you and get your feedback.

On another note, should we try to set up a meeting with the neighbors before the May 25th meeting? It would be great to go to the meeting on the 25th having met with the neighbors. It is our hope to build a bridge with the Krusi neighbors so we can mitigate any issues that might arise and quell their fears about noise.

Thank you and have a good weekend.

Best,

Teri, Rod, Eddie & Kristen
<5-10-23 Proposed Tes%ng For Noise Levels At Krusi Park.docx> On Jun 1, 2023, at 2:59 PM, Teri Rose <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Dave & Matt,
Hope this finds you well. I wanted to follow up on our meeting last week with the Parks and Rec Commissioners.

Can we get a meeting set up with the neighbors and start our task force? I also thought that we should meet with the City Noise Ordinance Officer to help us design a noise study.

We have several plans to have a starting point but only suggestions. We need to design a fair study so the neighbors cannot say it didn't work.

Please let me know your thoughts and when we might be able to meet.

Maybe we can discuss what Franklin, Leydecker and or Washington might look like as well.

Thanks so much and we look forward to hearing from and working with you.

Best,
Teri
On Jun 2, 2023, at 7:34 AM, Kristin Fairﬁeld <kristinfairﬁ[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Dave,
Had a conversation with Stacy a couple weeks ago about court rentals and we realized that it’s time to meet about just some tennis things.

Things like…

1. ARPD Signs/ Communication-the rules and what all is posted at WAPA and all tennis facilities

2. Court rentals for teams/individuals

3. New: Regular recycling services at all Parks (glass/plastic/ aluminum). It’s our understanding that there is NO regular recycling service at the parks. There is no separation of those recycled items at the city waste level like there maybe was 20 years ago. We’ve made one of city council members aware of this and they are very much willing to help in this situation.

So we should talk about this and see what can be done.

If we can meet sometime end of this month-that would be great.

Happy to meet at WAPA if you’d like.

Also-Matt: the net on court 2 at WAPA is broken.

The women’s restroom door latch needs ﬁxing again. It’s not shutting properly.

Thanks Everyone,
Kristin
On Jun 12, 2023, at 2:33 PM, Teri Rose <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Matt & Dave,
I am following up my June 1st email to you requesting that we set a date for a meeting with Alameda Pickleball, Alameda Tennis Coalition, the two of you and one or two of the ARPD Commissioners. This is the meeting requested by the commissioners at May 25, 2023 ARPD Commission meeting.

The purpose of the meeting is to move forward with a noise compliance study to measure the noise levels while playing pickleball at Krusi Park taking into account the traffic and general park noise. It is our hope that the Alameda Code Enforcement Officer can help design the study so it will be an accurate assessment and in compliance with the standards set by the City of Alameda.

Please let me know how we can help set a date for the meeting so we can move this joint venture forward and relieve some of the congestion at Lincoln Park. We are ready to go with several suggestions as to how we can meet some of the neighbors concerns.

Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best,
Teri
On Jul 20, 2023, at 4:52 PM, David Leimsieder <[email protected]> wrote:

Good Ayernoon,

We are reaching out to provide an update regarding next steps for ac%va%ng a Pickleball Trial Period. ARPD is now prepared to move forward seeing that our 4th of July event is over, and we have brought our new Director, Jus%n Long into the department.

It is our inten%on to bring together stakeholders represen%ng Neighborhoods, Pickleball enthusiasts, Tennis enthusiasts, along with ARPD staﬀ and a member of the Recrea%on and Parks Commission. We are working diligently to develop some dray parameters and expecta%ons for this group to discuss. It is our inten%on to bring this group together for a mee%ng in Mid-August. More informa%on will soon be forthcoming.

Should you have any ques%ons, please respond back to this email. Otherwise I can be reached at 510-747-7580.

Respectully,

<image001.png>
Dave J. Leimsieder (he/his/him)
Recrea%on Services Manager
City of Alameda - Recrea%on & Park Department
2226 Santa Clara Ave | Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 747-7580 (Oﬃce) | (510) 871-1890 (Cell)
[email protected]
www.alamedaca.gov/recrea%on
Facebook: @playARPD
On Aug 10, 2023, at 11:21 AM, Kristin Fairﬁeld <kristinfairﬁ[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Justin, Matt and Dave,
We requested a meeting with ARPD on June 2nd about tennis that hasn’t happened and some of the things we’ve been working on together that have not been completed.

I’ve attached the ARPD Tennis Court Rules that Amy sent us (the ﬁnal draft) that we worked on together speciﬁcally for WAPA back in Nov 2022. We don’t understand why the signs have not been made/posted. It’s created more confusion at WAPA. What we are communicating to our community should be clear. Confusing messages are counter productive and more harmful than helpful.

So we’d like that action to be taken ASAP.

We’d also like to know what the timeline is for ﬁxing court 5 at WAPA. The courts been down now for 2 weeks and communication would help us be able to let our community know when we can expect the court to be back. Having one less court at our most populars courts is not good since it’s the “tennis season”.

Some of the other things we’d like to discuss in our meeting:

1. Court rentals (in general)

2. Replacing the old hanging garbage cans at WAPA with a different color receptacle.

Green is confusing and the hanging cans block views for watching tennis matches.

I’ve copied our other reps from the ATC on this email (Charlie/Ed).

Thank you!
Kristin
<Exhibit 1 - ARPD Tennis Court Rules.pdf>
On Sep 21, 2023, at 5:32 PM, David Leimsieder <[email protected]> wrote:

Good Ayernoon Everyone,

I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that we have received various feedback from several of you, and truly appreciate everyone’s engagement with this process. Our goal is to address everyone’s concerns and answer as many ques%ons as possible. In order to ensure that we can eﬀec%vely and successfully facilitate this Pickleball Trial, we have decided to place a pause on oﬃcially star%ng the trial, which I will repeat has not stated yet.

Beyond addressing various concerns from this group, we also want to ensure that we are properly considering the logis%cs at each site and have given each aﬀected neighborhood an opportunity to get involved and be informed about this process. It is our inten%on to bring this group back together with a representa%ve from each of the other neighborhoods in the next couple of weeks. In the mean%me, we will be working to address your various concerns and ﬁnalize a process that we feel conﬁdent will be successful. Thanks again everyone for your par%cipa%on in this process.

Respectully,

<image001.png>
Dave J. Leimsieder (he/his/him)
Recrea%on Services Manager
City of Alameda - Recrea%on & Park Department
2226 Santa Clara Ave | Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 747-7580 (Oﬃce) | (510) 871-1890 (Cell)
[email protected]
www.alamedaca.gov/recrea%on
Facebook: @playARPD
On Sep 21, 2023, at 5:32 PM, David Leimsieder <[email protected]> wrote:

Good Ayernoon Everyone,

Respectully,

<image001.png>
Dave J. Leimsieder (he/his/him)
Recrea%on Services Manager
City of Alameda - Recrea%on & Park Department
2226 Santa Clara Ave | Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 747-7580 (Oﬃce) | (510) 871-1890 (Cell)
[email protected]
www.alamedaca.gov/recrea%on
Facebook: @playARPD
On Sep 8, 2023, at 11:20 AM, David Leimsieder <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to take an opportunity to thank everyone who was able to participate on Wednesday evening. I also wanted to share the presentation and video recording from the meeting as well. Please see the link for the meeting recording below. The presentation is attached. Our intention is to have another meeting at the end of September before the trial is scheduled to commence. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions.

Meeting Recording: https://alamedaca-gov.zoom.us/rec/share/a65_ywK- ffZhNPAT09y6QQkI6lmnLHG1ZAz4uW0RMLPp0tZIYl8M_6SNMrnSEWor.Lo0xKhBdAfb TSXO6
Passcode: Ui4&u5PQ

Respectfully,

<image001.png>
Dave J. Leimsieder (he/his/him)
Recreation Services Manager
City of Alameda - Recreation & Park Department
2226 Santa Clara Ave | Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 747-7580 (Ofﬁce) | (510) 871-1890 (Cell)
[email protected]
www.alamedaca.gov/recreation
Facebook: @playARPD

Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 10:31 PM

To: Justin Long <[email protected]>; Eric Robbins <[email protected]>; Alexander, Adrienne Chaix <[email protected]>

Cc: Eddie Metairie <[email protected]>; Rod Harris <[email protected]>; Matt Nowlen <[email protected]>

Subject: [EXTERNAL] Krusi Park/Estuary Park
Dear Justin, Adrienne & Eric &Matt,

Once again I am only including Adrienne and Eric as the commission members since I do not have email addresses for the other commissioners.

Thank you for ﬁlling in some of the problematic cracks at Lincoln Park. We will keep you posted as to the status of the cracks as they progress.

We received Matt's email about the shortfall in construction costs for Estuary Park and the possible delay in construction. We would like to discuss how if at all we can help.

However, it will be a hard sell to our community since we have received absolutely nothing we have requested even though we have acted in good faith and met with ARPD, the neighbors, and the commission and provided many plans as to how we could share court space in Alameda.

We realize there has been signiﬁcant turnover at ARPD, however as I stated in my email a few weeks ago, we have been more than patient. What happened to the request from the commission last May to get more court space? Nothing has happened except stalling. We have sat through personnel changes, commission meeting continuances (at least 3) and basically received lip service. We appreciate the green light to have disability play times and fundraisers but we have nowhere to do it as Lincoln Park is too crowded.

We would like to meet so that we can talk before the commission meeting in January (assuming there is one.) The pickleball community is at a loss as to understand why we can't have temporary space at Krusi or Washington Park. I am told that as many as 16 people play at Krusi courts ( at any given time) and no one complains. Despite the neighbors and some ARPD personnel thinking we can all join The Hub and it will solve our problems, we cannot. People pay taxes for parks and the pickleball community watches tennis courts sit empty while we are jammed at Lincoln Park. At this point, almost a year later, it seems absurd that we cannot have more space. As we have stated many times, Pickleball is a community sport. We are a community at Lincoln Park and private clubs lose that spirit of one looking out for the other and of 11 year olds playing with 91 year olds. These things don't happen at a club.

The pickleball community will once again write letters, attend meetings and many are ready to show up at the ARPD ofﬁces. I have tried to ask this community to be patient but I can't in good faith ask anymore as no one at ARPD or the ARPD Commission has acted in good faith.

One member asked Director Long about the delay and, frankly, the response was insulting. Yes we have taken the survey but have little faith in the response that it will be completed in 2025 as we have been told that for 2-3 years. This feels like a pipe dream.

We would like to meet within the next two weeks to move the temporary space forward.

It is hard to understand the delay except that this is apparently not important to you or the commission. There are empty tennis courts all over town. How can you justify not providing more space?

We look forward to our meeting.

Thank you,

Teri Rose
From: Justin Long

Sent: Monday, December 4, 2023 12:50 PM

To: 'Teri Rose' <[email protected]>; Eric Robbins <[email protected]>; Alexander, Adrienne Chaix <[email protected]>

Cc: Eddie Metairie <[email protected]>; Rod Harris <[email protected]>; Matt Nowlen <[email protected]>

Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Krusi Park/Estuary Park

Teri,

I am trying to arrange a time for us all to meet. I am looking at the week of December 11th-15. The goal of the meeting will be to discuss alternate locations and times of play.

I look forward to working with you.

Thank you,
Justin
On Dec 8, 2023, at 5:23 PM, Justin Long <[email protected]> wrote:

The meeting is to discuss increasing space for pickleball in Alameda.Justin Long is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://alamedaca-gov.zoom.us/j/89822182347?
pwd=UFF4c2s1V0FEam8xbFg1K2ZrOTJRUT09

Meeting ID: 898 2218 2347
Passcode: 777986

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From: Lawrence Yee
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 6:11:42 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Clear signage is urgently needed to prevent the ongoing and escalating conflicts between tennis and pickleball players, which have made it increasingly difficult—and potentially unsafe—for us to enjoy these courts. The situation has worsened over the past two years, and while we are fortunate that no one has been seriously injured, immediate action is necessary. [Insert your experience with pickleball incidents here, if any.] We also ask that a clear policy be created that designates these courts as "Tennis Only" to ensure safe and fair use for everyone. This will help protect the well-being of both tennis and pickleball players by preventing conflicts and ensuring that each sport has its designated space.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Lawrence Yee
From: Justin Long
To: CityCouncil-List
Cc: Amy Wooldridge; Jennifer Ott
Subject: Tennis Communications
Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 4:22:34 PM
Council Members,

We are receiving a large number of correspondence letters related to “Tennis Concerns”.

To reduce the impact on your inboxes staff will respond directly to each of the citizens.

Below is the information being shared with the community members.

“Thank you for taking the time to reach out to the City about your concerns about the tennis courts in Alameda. In early August 2024 ARPD met with the Alameda Tennis Coalition to discuss signage at Washington Park Tennis courts. ARPD agreed to install a “Tennis Only” sign as well as update our rental agreement indicating that only tennis is allowed to be played at the Washington Park Tennis complex to reduce conflicts. ARPD also stated signs will be posted at Krusi, Longfellow, Franklin identifying where pickleball can be played at Lincoln and court 1 at Leydecker.

It is standard practice that any Recreation and Parks policy changes that impact the public are brought to the Recreation and Parks Commission for approval. ARPD will bring the following items for consideration and a formal vote of the Commission on the October 10 agenda: (1) making the Leydecker pickleball pilot program an ongoing program; and (2) consideration of whether signage should be placed at all tennis courts in the City that are not officially striped for pickleball (i.e., Washington, Krusi, Longfellow and Franklin) stating that they are explicitly for tennis only (or no pickleball).”

Thank you,
Justin Long
Recreation and Parks Director
City of Alameda
From: Eugene Yu
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 2:40:45 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

I have had several instances where the tennis courts have been taken up by people playing pickleball and we had to wait much longer for available courts.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,

Eugene Yu

From: Jason Yang
To: Justin Long
Cc: CityCouncil-List; Jennifer Ott
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Requesting tennis only signs
Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 1:39:35 PM
I really appreciate the response! Also - just wanted to express a huge thank you to Justin and the entire city council for doing a great job making Alameda a great place to live and enjoy recreational activities. It's much appreciated.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Jason
On Fri, Aug 30, 2024 at 12:33 PM Justin Long <[email protected] > wrote:

Jason,
Thank you for taking the time to reach out to the City about your concerns about the tennis courts in Alameda. In early August 2024 ARPD met with the Alameda Tennis Coalition to discuss signage at Washington Park Tennis courts.

ARPD agreed to install a “Tennis Only” sign as well as update our rental agreement indicating that only tennis is allowed to be played at the Washington Park Tennis complex to reduce conflicts. ARPD also stated signs will be posted at Krusi, Longfellow, Franklin identifying where pickleball can be played at Lincoln and court 1 at Leydecker.

It is standard practice that any Recreation and Parks policy changes that impact the public are brought to the Recreation and Parks Commission for approval.

ARPD will bring the following items for consideration and a formal vote of the Commission on the October 10 agenda: (1) making the Leydecker pickleball pilot program an ongoing program; and (2) consideration of whether signage should be placed at all tennis courts in the City that are not officially striped for pickleball (i.e., Washington, Krusi, Longfellow and Franklin) stating that they are explicitly for tennis only (or no pickleball).

Thank you,
Justin Long
Director of Recreation and Parks
City of Alameda

From: Jason Yang <[email protected]>
Date: August 29, 2024 at 2:30:19 PM PDT
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>, City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Requesting tennis only signs

Hello City Council,

I’m writing to express my support for tennis only signs at Washington Park courts. I am a resident and homeowner in Alameda.

In the last few months, I’ve noticed increasing and growing numbers of pickle ball players on the tennis courts. It’s created some confrontations about the use of the courts. It is unclear what is permissible.

My preference is that WaPa Courts remain a tennis only facility, and I support tennis only signage to help with enforcement of tennis only play.

Thank you
Jason Yang
Resident of 25 years in Alameda
--
Thanks.

Jason
From: Levent Onar
To: Yibin Shen; CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 1:18:33 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Levent Onar
From: Justin Long
To: [email protected]
Cc: CityCouncil-List; Jennifer Ott
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 12:51:48 PM
Drew,

Thank you for taking the time to reach out to the City about your concerns about the tennis courts in Alameda. In early August 2024 ARPD met with the Alameda Tennis Coalition to discuss signage at Washington Park Tennis courts. ARPD agreed to install a “Tennis Only” sign as well as update our rental agreement indicating that only tennis is allowed to be played at the Washington Park Tennis complex to reduce conflicts. ARPD also stated signs will be posted at Krusi, Longfellow, Franklin identifying where pickleball can be played at Lincoln and court 1 at Leydecker.

Thank you,
Justin Long
Director of Recreation and Parks
City of Alameda

From: Drew <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2024 6:40 PM
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts

Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

I have played at these courts 2-3 times per week since 2015, both recreationally and for USTA leagues. The courts have become increasingly crowded over the years even before introducing a new sport such as pickleball to them.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Drew Cribley

From: Justin Long
To: [email protected]
Cc: CityCouncil-List
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 12:50:22 PM
Serena,

Thank you,
Justin Long
Director of Recreation and Parks
City of Alameda

From: Serena Hom <[email protected]
>
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2024 5:12 PM
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts

Dear City Council,

I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

The pickleball players who draw pickleball lines on the tennis courts are creating a visual disruption to the tennis game. Additionally, they have their OWN courts to play on. Consider the flip side: Tennis players do NOT show up to the pickleball courts and play tennis on the PB courts. We are asking to protect our tennis space.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Serena Hom
From: Justin Long
To: [email protected]
Cc: CityCouncil-List; Jennifer Ott
Subject: RE: Taking great care of our wonderful tennis courts in town! Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 12:48:49 PM
Janie,

Thank you for taking the time to reach out to the City about your concerns about the tennis courts in Alameda. ARPD has put a lot of effort into the courts at Washington, Krusi, and Franklin. Staff are aware of the condition of the court at Longfellow and it is the next court planned for improvements when the funding is available. We have worked with both tennis and pickle ball groups at Leydecker to establish clear signage when tennis lessons are scheduled and when open pickle ball play is allowed. Court #1 was specifically selected for pickle ball because it has a separate entrance and has fencing separating it from the other two courts.

Thank you,
Justin Long
Director of Recreation and Parks
City of Alameda

From: Janie McCauley <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2024 4:48 PM
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]> Cc: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>; Willie J Hagans <[email protected]>; charlie dewett <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Taking great care of our wonderful tennis courts in town!

Dear City Council Members for the City of Alameda,

As a tennis player who has returned to the sport in recent years after a 25-year hiatus from playing collegiately, I am so appreciative of all the efforts to resurface courts in recent years at Washington Park, Krusi and most recently Franklin. I play at every spot in our great city and would love for Longfellow right next door to my home to be shown a little more TLC, too, if possible.

I take almost weekly lessons from one of your great ARPD instructors, Paul or Andrew, and have recently witnessed both longtime coaches face abuse at the hands of both pickleball players and a group of soccer players over the past year. Paul politely approached a soccer team playing on court 3 at Washington Park to request they moved their game onto the grass because of the potential damage to the nets and court given they were running into the nets as well as kicking the ball into the nets. And who knows if they were wearing non-marking shoes. One man became very hostile and had to be held back from approaching Paul in a violent way. This cannot take place in our parks.

At Leydecker, where Andrew and Paul both teach regularly as well, there is now a designated pickleball court but it is also available for tennis lessons as a priority during the scheduled hours. I often see pickleball players cross through the first two courts rather than walk around and become quite rude with Andrew if he is on the court because they don't know the rules of how everything is working.

The Alameda Tennis Coalition has put in countless hours trying to improve communication with ARPD, trying to improve signage at all the courts and working to better relationships between everybody while keeping the courts in top-notch condition and with a fair process. I support their efforts and hope we can push these very important projects through for everybody to understand how the tennis programs and court times work.

I also play regularly at Bay Trees Park in Castro Valley and they have a system that is easy to navigate and rarely has the same issues we face here.

Sincerely,
Janie McCauley
USTA player on Washington Park and Laney teams
From: Justin Long
To: [email protected]
Cc: CityCouncil-List; Jennifer Ott
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Requesting tennis only signs
Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 12:33:39 PM
Jason,
Thank you for taking the time to reach out to the City about your concerns about the tennis courts in Alameda. In early August 2024 ARPD met with the Alameda Tennis Coalition to discuss signage at Washington Park Tennis courts. ARPD agreed to install a “Tennis Only” sign as well as update our rental agreement indicating that only tennis is allowed to be played at the Washington Park Tennis complex to reduce conflicts. ARPD also stated signs will be posted at Krusi, Longfellow, Franklin identifying where pickleball can be played at Lincoln and court 1 at Leydecker.

Thank you,
Justin Long
Director of Recreation and Parks
City of Alameda

From: Jason Yang <[email protected]
>
Date: August 29, 2024 at 2:30:19 PM PDT
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>, City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Requesting tennis only signs

Hello City Council,

I’m writing to express my support for tennis only signs at Washington Park courts. I am a resident and homeowner in Alameda.

My preference is that WaPa Courts remain a tennis only facility, and I support tennis only signage to help with enforcement of tennis only play.

Thank you
Jason Yang
Resident of 25 years in Alameda
From: Justin Long
To: [email protected]
Cc: CityCouncil-List; Amy Wooldridge
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Shortage of tennis courts
Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 12:32:13 PM
Mike,

Thank you,
Justin Long
Director of Recreation and Parks
City of Alameda

From: Mike Cantor <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2024 2:15 PM
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Shortage of tennis courts

Dear City Council,

A city council meeting has been scheduled for Sept 2 to discuss ARPD policies for Washington Park ("WAPA") and other tennis parks in Alameda. As a frequent user of the WAPA courts I'd like to share my experience on the ground.

It is increasingly difficult to get on a court at WAPA. Between 5-8pm and on the weekends, I rarely have to wait less than 45 minutes to play. About half of the people on the court are aware of and follow the clock system. Pretty much every night groups of players are walking around asking people on the court how long they've been there, if they are following the clocks etc. Disputes are very frequent. And now with the Alameda HS team out of their own court and reserving huge blocks of time at WAPA the situation is dramatically worse.

I have nothing against pickleball or pickleball players, but throwing them into the mix makes WAPA pretty much intolerable during the popular weeknight and weekend hours. I've started booking courts in Oakland. Hence, I am writing to support the motion to install "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

If pickleball is growing in popularity in Alameda, pickleball players should lobby to build more pickleball courts.

But as popular as pickleball may be, there is for sure already an interest in tennis among Alamedans that far exceeds the available court space.

Thank you so much for your time and attention,
-Mike Cantor

From: Ken Fagel
To: Justin Long
Cc: Amy Wooldridge; CityCouncil-List; Yibin Shen
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 11:49:22 AM
Justin, thanks for taking the time to reply.

Ken
From: Justin Long <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, August 30, 2024 10:55 AM
To: Ken Fagel <[email protected]>
Cc: Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>; CityCouncil-List <CITYCOUNCIL- [email protected]>; Yibin Shen <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts

Ken,

Thank you,
Justin Long
Director of Recreation and Parks
City of Alameda

From: Ken Fagel <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2024 11:15 AM
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]>; Yibin Shen <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts

Dear City Council,

I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,

Ken Fagel

From: Justin Long
To: Amy Wooldridge
Cc: Jennifer Ott; CityCouncil-List
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] FW: Request for signage change at Leydecker Park re: tennis/pickleball Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 10:53:30 AM
Attachments: image001.png
Molly,

Thank you for taking the time to reach out to the City about your concerns about the tennis courts in Alameda. The new signage at Leydecker has provided clarity and reduced conflicts between user groups. ARPD will post at Krusi, Longfellow, Franklin identifying where pickleball can be played at Lincoln and court 1 at Leydecker.

Thank you,
Justin Long
Director of Recreation and Parks
City of Alameda

From: Molly Sweeney <[email protected]
>
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2024 11:42 AM
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: [EXTERNAL] FW: Request for signage change at Leydecker Park re: tennis/pickleball

Hello Alameda City Council,
In April, I wrote an email to ARPD ([email protected]) regarding issues that I personally experienced at Leydecker Park regarding the initial sign that was posted there indicating all courts were reserved for pickleball all day, every day. See below for that email.

I appreciate that updated signage has been posted indicating tennis lessons are prioritized on Leydecker Court 1 from 8-11 AM every day. I am now writing a second email regarding Courts 2 and 3 to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs here, as well as at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, and Longfellow Parks.

Thank you for your consideration,
Molly Sweeney
1110 Ironwood Road
415-225-3135

On Tue, Apr 23, 2024 at 1:24 PM Molly Sweeney <[email protected] > wrote:

Hello,

I am writing with a request to revise/streamline the communications about pickleball and tennis play at Leydecker Park. I am a local resident who uses the courts for tennis, and I have been part of a handful of uncomfortable conversations with pickleballers in recent weeks. I know others have as well, and I fear these conversations may escalate needlessly among the two communities. There is a simple solution to get in front of it.

If Courts 2 and 3 are taken, and no one is playing pickleball on Court 1 when I arrive to play tennis, the standard rule for use of the court should apply (i.e., first come, first served; the court is mine for an hour, beginning when I started playing).

Pickleballers can't just kick someone off the courts as soon as they arrive based on the word "reserved" in the sign, and that is the argument they are making.

Is it possible for you to remove this and any other contradictory signs and create one that spells out the rules and court etiquette so everyone is reading and interpreting the same thing? ARPD tennis lessons and pickleball lessons should get precedence at their predetermined hours (there are two separate signs on the doors right now), and standard court rules should otherwise apply.

Thank you for your consideration,

Molly Sweeney
1110 Ironwood Road
415-225-3135
From: Lily Leung
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Fw: CORRECTION: EMAIL DEADLINE-Sept 2nd/ MEETING Sept 3rd! Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 8:42:55 AM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at Washington Park, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Clear signage is urgently needed to prevent the ongoing and escalating conflicts between tennis and pickleball players, which have made it increasingly difficult—and potentially unsafe —for us to enjoy these courts. The situation has worsened over the past two years, and while we are fortunate that no one has been seriously injured, immediate action is necessary. [Insert your experience with pickleball incidents here, if any.] We also ask that a clear policy be created that designates these courts as "Tennis Only" to ensure safe and fair use for everyone. This will help protect the well-being of both tennis and pickleball players by preventing conflicts and ensuring that each sport has its designated space.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Best regards,
Lily Leung, Alameda resident and tennis player
1106 Bismarck Lane
Alameda, California 94502
(510) 332-7398 (cell)
[email protected]
(email)
From: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, August 30, 2024 8:19 AM
To: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>
Cc: Willie Hagans <[email protected]>; Charlie Dewett <[email protected]>; Ed Setton <[email protected]>
Subject: CORRECTION: EMAIL DEADLINE-Sept 2nd/ MEETING Sept 3rd!

Dear Tennis Friends,
Thank you for alerting me to the correct date of the meeting. I had mistakenly listed it as Tuesday, September 2nd, but the correct date is Tuesday, September 3rd (7pm). Thanks also to everyone who has already written an email! Emails must be sent before the meeting for council to read in time so please try to get them in by Monday Sept 2nd.

EMAIL, SHOW UP TO THE MEETING TUES 9/3 @7PM
We urgently need you to email now (deadline Sept 2nd) and we also need 25-30+ people to attend the city council meeting this Tuesday (9/3 @ 7pm). We were told that people can just copy/paste from our script (instructions below). If any of you have had pickleball incidents, please share what you can about them in your email if you have time.

A big THANK YOU to the 100+ people who took our survey these past five days. Unfortunately, we’ve learned that the survey alone isn’t enough. If we don’t act now, the tennis/pickleball battle will continue, and we risk having ALL tennis courts in Alameda become “flexible courts,” as proposed by ARPD. We’ve included the original referral filed by Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer (below). ARPD wants to reopen the issue to public opinion, leading to more surveys, proposals, and meetings. This could mean permanently sharing all tennis courts with pickleball players.

We know it’s a big ask, but we’re reaching out to those we know we can count on. ARPD has tried to shut us out of the conversation with the council, undermining our efforts for over two years now. They’ve stalled the printing of clear signage on purpose, aiming to keep courts “flexible.” In 2021, we rallied for WAPA’s Court 4, and it worked. If you’ve benefited from our past efforts—like court resurfacing, new lights, or the recycle ball program—now is the time to step up! Tennis should be a safe, stress-free outlet for us all.

WHERE TO GO TO ATTEND THE 9/3 MEETING
PLEASE RSVP TO US THAT YOU ARE ATTENDING!
In person: City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue, Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, Alameda, CA 94501 For Zoom registration, please click: https://alamedaca- gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mv2Oz1eUS5SWM8_Yc8ZLgQ
At the meeting: Wear white, and we will deliver a unified message. We demand "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs and immediate policy action for "Tennis Only" at Washington, Krusi, Franklin, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

EMAIL INSTRUCTIONS: FILL IN YOUR NAME/ COPY/PASTE send to both:

[email protected]
, (reaches all council) and [email protected],
FOR ANY PAST ESCALATED CONFLICTS:

Please ALSO include city attorney in your email: [email protected] ,
COPY/PASTE EMAIL OR WRITE YOUR OWN EMAIL:

Subject: Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
[Your Name]
ORIGINAL REFERRAL FILED to City Council on our behalf by Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer COUNCIL REFERRAL FORM

The Council can take any of the following actions:
1) Take no action.
2) Refer the matter to staff to schedule as a future City Council agenda item. Concurrence that staff time will be devoted to the item does not signify approval.
3) Take dispositive action only on time sensitive legislative matters if sufficiently noticed such that the public and Council have been provided sufficient information by the published agenda, and no formal published notice of a public hearing is required.

Name of Councilmember(s) requesting referral: Trish Herrera Spencer Date of submission to City Clerk (must be submitted before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the Council meeting requested): August 19, 2024
Council Meeting date: September 3, 2024
Brief description of the subject to be printed on the agenda, sufficient to inform the City Council and public of the nature of the referral:

Request City Council direct staff to: 1) add clear signage on courts of which courts are "pickleball only, no tennis," "tennis only, no pickleball," and, if any, "pickleball and tennis allowed"; 2) implement and enforce the ARPD agreement/understanding/pilot program/policy of pickleball is only at Lincoln and Leydecker and not at Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow and new pickleball courts will be added at Alameda Point; and,
3) ARPD/City staff will collaborate and work with the Alameda pickleball representatives (Teri Rose and Eddie Metairie) and Alameda Tennis Coalition representatives (Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewett, and Ed Setton) in good faith to have both pickleball and tennis offered equitably and responsibly with consideration of noise constraints at Alameda public parks.

Background:

In regards to Washington Park, staff has agreed to post "tennis only" signs. There's no date certain and clearer signs would be preferred of "tennis only - no pickleball." Daily there are confrontations of pickleball players wanting to play at Washington and the burden falls on tennis players to clarify the rules that not allowed there and unnecessarily an issue because lack of clear signage. There have been hundreds of confrontations during last 2-3 years. There are pickleball players from outside area and new players. Tennis players have repeatedly asked ARPD/City staff for clear signage and have emailed City Council for assistance because of the severity of the situation.

In regards to Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow, it's critical that "tennis only - no pickleball" signs be posted asap.

There are serious noise concerns at these locations because of the close proximity of the courts to residential housing. There have been numerous meetings [ARPD/City staff with community-at-large (about 50 attended) and representatives from both pickleball and tennis] and threats of litigation against the City over this issue. Thus, the understanding with ARPD/City staff of where pickleball can be played.

The understanding between ARPD/City staff and the Alameda pickleball and tennis players (through the Alameda Tennis Coalition and the Alameda pickleball group) is that pickleball is only at Lincoln and Leydecker where ARPD has painted pickleball courts. ARPD/City staff has also agreed to add new pickleball courts at Alameda Point.

The issue has already gone to the Recreation and Parks Commission. The Commission requested that ARPD work with pickleball (thus the pickleball group with volunteer representatives Teri Rose and Eddie Metairie) and tennis, thus the Alameda Tennis Coalition (ATC) was formed, with three volunteer representatives (Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewitt and Ed Setton). Multiple meetings were held and an understanding (as stated above) was reached.

Initially about 10 tennis players attended the ARPD meetings and ARPD/City staff requested limit to three (3), as was done. ARPD also requested tennis complaints go through the tennis representatives so they are caught in the middle of these ongoing disagreements/confrontations with safety concerns.

ARPD/City staff have already done outreach with the Leydecker neighbors and they agreed to pickleball at Leydecker. Thus, the Leydecker courts have been painted for pickleball.

ARPD/City staff have already agreed to add 4-6 new pickleball courts at Alameda Point.

Sadly, it appears that now ARPD/City staff wants to continue to revisit this issue, continuing to put tennis players in the middle with safety risks and not reasonably implement the previous understanding/agreement/pilot program/policy, which also continues expenditure of limited staff resources and taxpayer/financial costs.

Implementing and enforcing the current understanding would best serve all parties involved and the community-at- large.

See attachments.

The City Council approved a Strategic Plan on November 21, 2023, which established the following 5 priorities:

A. Enhance Community Safety & Services
B. Build Resilience to Climate Change & Water Level Rise C. Invest in Transportation, Infrastructure, Economic Opportunities & Historic Resources D. House All Alamedans & End Homelessness
E. Practice Fiscal Responsible, Equitable & Inclusive Governance

If applicable, briefly describe which Council priority the subject falls under and how it relates:

A. Enhance Community Safety and Services. As stated above, it's critical that both pickleball and tennis be offered equitably and responsibly with consideration of noise constraints at Alameda public parks and that signage clearly convey which courts are "pickleball only, no tennis," "tennis only, no pickleball," and, if any, "pickleball and tennis allowed" to implement the City’s programs and minimize/eliminate confrontations/safety concerns.

Thank you for your consideration.

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
From Trish...

Here's the link you can follow to see documents produced. The records will be made available to the public via this link.
https://cityofalamedaca.nextrequest.com/requests/24-288 From: Edison Tung
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 8:32:27 AM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at Washington, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Tennis Courts.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Edison Tung
From: KWOK YIN CHAN
To: CityCouncil-List
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request to Prevent Public Tennis Courts to Dual Use for Pickleball Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 10:05:23 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Yours truly
Kwok Yin Chan

From: David Meyers
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 7:38:01 PM

Dear City Council
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

We need signage on these courts to prevent any conflicts between tennis and pickleball players, which has made it increasingly awkward to interact with them about court usage.

Unless this issue is properly addressed, these interactions will only get worse moving forward.

Pickleball should be confined to the game-specific dimensions of their own courts. It’s distracting to play tennis next to the thwacking sound of their racquets hitting the ball.

The above mention courts should be designated with signage as “Tennis Only" so that everyone has a clear understanding of the right to access the tennis courts.

As an avid tennis player (and voter) please give your serious attention to this matter. —David Meyers
Sent from my iPhone
From: Drew
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 6:40:43 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Drew Cribley
From: Serena Hom
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 5:12:34 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Serena Hom
From: Janie McCauley
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Cc: Kristin Fairfield; Willie J Hagans; charlie dewett
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Taking great care of our wonderful tennis courts in town! Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 4:48:02 PM
Dear City Council Members for the City of Alameda,
As a tennis player who has returned to the sport in recent years after a 25-year hiatus from playing collegiately, I am so appreciative of all the efforts to resurface courts in recent years at Washington Park, Krusi and most recently Franklin. I play at every spot in our great city and would love for Longfellow right next door to my home to be shown a little more TLC, too, if possible.

I also play regularly at Bay Trees Park in Castro Valley and they have a system that is easy to navigate and rarely has the same issues we face here.

Sincerely,
Janie McCauley
USTA player on Washington Park and Laney teams
From: Jason Yang
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Requesting tennis only signs
Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 2:30:19 PM
Hello City Council,
I’m writing to express my support for tennis only signs at Washington Park courts. I am a resident and homeowner in Alameda.

My preference is that WaPa Courts remain a tennis only facility, and I support tennis only signage to help with enforcement of tennis only play.

Thank you
Jason Yang
Resident of 25 years in Alameda
From: Mike Cantor
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Shortage of tennis courts
Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 2:15:53 PM
Dear City Council,
A city council meeting has been scheduled for Sept 2 to discuss ARPD policies for Washington Park ("WAPA") and other tennis parks in Alameda. As a frequent user of the WAPA courts I'd like to share my experience on the ground.

If pickleball is growing in popularity in Alameda, pickleball players should lobby to build more pickleball courts.

But as popular as pickleball may be, there is for sure already an interest in tennis among Alamedans that far exceeds the available court space.

Thank you so much for your time and attention,
-Mike Cantor
From: Molly Sweeney
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] FW: Request for signage change at Leydecker Park re: tennis/pickleball Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 11:42:41 AM
Attachments: Screen Shot 2024-04-23 at 13.01.17.png
Hello Alameda City Council,
In April, I wrote an email to ARPD ([email protected]) regarding issues that I personally experienced at Leydecker Park regarding the initial sign that was posted there indicating all courts were reserved for pickleball all day, every day. See below for that email.

Thank you for your consideration,
Molly Sweeney
1110 Ironwood Road
415-225-3135
On Tue, Apr 23, 2024 at 1:24 PM Molly Sweeney <[email protected] > wrote:

Hello,
I am writing with a request to revise/streamline the communications about pickleball and tennis play at Leydecker Park. I am a local resident who uses the courts for tennis, and I have been part of a handful of uncomfortable conversations with pickleballers in recent weeks. I know others have as well, and I fear these conversations may escalate needlessly among the two communities. There is a simple solution to get in front of it.

I understand that pickleball lines have been painted on Court 1, but this sign that says "All Leydecker pickleball courts are reserved for pickleball from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM everyday" is misleading -- particularly the word "reserved."
If Courts 2 and 3 are taken, and no one is playing pickleball on Court 1 when I arrive to play tennis, the standard rule for use of the court should apply (i.e., first come, first served; the court is mine for an hour, beginning when I started playing). Pickleballers can't just kick someone off the courts as soon as they arrive based on the word "reserved" in the sign, and that is the argument they are making.

Thank you for your consideration,
Molly Sweeney
1110 Ironwood Road
415-225-3135
From: Ken Fagel
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk; Yibin Shen
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Request for "Tennis Only" Signs and Policy at Alameda Courts Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 11:15:22 AM
Dear City Council,
I am writing to request the installation of "Tennis Only - No Pickleball" signs at WAPA, Franklin, Krusi, Longfellow, and Leydecker Courts 2/3.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,
Ken Fagel
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: Re: From the ATC: Urgent Request for Amendment to Signs and Proper Labeling of Fairfield Tennis Complex
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 6:13:04 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>
Date: Aug 8, 2024 11:01 AM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: From the ATC: Urgent Request for Amendment to Signs and Proper Labeling of Fairfield Tennis Complex
To: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>
Cc: Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>,charlie dewett <[email protected]>,Ed Setton <[email protected]>,Justin Long <[email protected]>
Hello Everyone,
Thank you, Councilmember Herrera Spencer, for bringing this up. We plan to pursue the necessary process to get “tennis only” signs for Krusi, Franklin, and Longfellow, along with any other measures needed to ensure these courts remain exclusively for tennis.

When we inquired why ARPD leadership did not include “tennis only” on the newly printed rules signs, we were told: “Sports come and go. There’s limited court space. We want to have flexibility in the future for ever-changing activities.” ARPD agreed to place a “tennis only” sign at WAPA but was unwilling to do so at Krusi, Franklin, or Longfellow, citing the need for a “process” to post signs at these other courts.

We requested information on this process, and leadership agreed to share it with us later.

When we pointed out that WW funding for Krusi, Franklin, WAPA, and Longfellow is still in effect for the next 15 years, we were told from ARPD that East Bay Park and Rec responded that they would not “uphold” what was specified in Resolution 14721 (November 2008). Even though we were told this, we are committed to going through the process and getting the “tennis only” signs up at Krusi, Franklin, and Longfellow.

Additionally, the "tennis only" sign that will be posted at WAPA needs to clearly indicate that it applies to all courts and the backboard, as ARPD only intends to print one sign initially for the entire complex.

Thank you.

Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewitt and Ed Setton
On Behalf of the Alameda Tennis Coalition
On Aug 8, 2024, at 9:26 AM, Trish Spencer <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Dir. Wooldridge,
It was my understanding that, at least in regards to Krusi, neighbors expressed concerns in regards to the noise levels of pickleball, as the courts are very close to housing, and that the City agreed. If so, why wouldn't the City address that? I'm not sure if similar issues were raised at the other parks.

Thank you.

Trish Herrera Spencer
Councilmember
On Aug 8, 2024 9:19 AM, Amy Wooldridge <[email protected] >
wrote:

Hello Councilmember Herrera Spencer,

Pickleball is not actively encouraged at the other locations but is also not enforced is someone drops in to play it at one of those courts. I’ll let Justin chime in if he has additional information.

Thank you,
Amy

Amy Wooldridge, she/her
Assistant City Manager
[email protected]
(510) 747-4709

From: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 8, 2024 9:15 AM
To: Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>
Cc: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>; charlie dewett <[email protected]>; Ed Setton <[email protected]>; Justin Long <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: From the ATC: Urgent Request for Amendment to Signs and Proper Labeling of Fairfield Tennis Complex

Hi Assistant City Manager Wooldridge/Amy,

Thank you for this comprehensive update.

What is the status in regards to allowing non-tennis activities at Franklin, Krusi and Leydecker? Is pickleball allowed at those parks? It is my recollection that pickleball is not allowed at least at Krusi.

Thanks.

Trish

Trish Herrera Spencer
Councilmember

On Aug 6, 2024 5:21 PM, Amy Wooldridge
<[email protected]
> wrote:

Hello Mayor and City Councilmembers,

On Friday, Aug. 2, Justin Long and Amy Wooldridge met with Kristin Fairfield and Charlie Dewitt from the Alameda Tennis Coalition (ATC), copied here. We had a productive meeting and came to resolution on all of the items raised by ATC, including the following:

Signage
ARPD is adding the Park Rules & Regulations signs next to the Tennis Court Rules. They will add TENNIS ONLY for the
Washington Park Tennis Court rules sign. Combined, these signs address all of the rules that ATC requested. They agreed with this approach.

ARPD will post the Tennis Rules and Park Rules & Regulations at all tennis court facilities.

ARPD provided a draft “Joan Fairfield Tennis Complex” sign which ATC approved. It will be printed and posted at the Washington Park tennis courts.

The clock instruction signage at Washington Park was previously moved to be next to the clocks and ARPD will reprint and replace the existing faded signs. Everyone agreed the new location works. In addition, language will be added to the Tennis Rules sign and on the bulletin board that all players must use clocks for play.

ARPD will add clock instruction signage at the other tennis locations that have clocks. ARPD will also research clocks to add at Franklin and Longfellow courts.

Tennis only
Washington Park Tennis Courts will be designated for tennis only.

This information will be included on the signage (as indicated above) as well as the reservation forms. For now, one additional sign clearly stating, “Tennis Only”, will be added at Washington Park. If it’s determined at a later date that more of these signs are needed, then ATC will communicate that to ARPD.

ARPD front desk staff will also be trained so they are providing the public with accurate information.

ATC was amenable to this approach
Safety
ARPD is adding 10-feet of netting along the softball side of the courts to prevent softballs from landing on the courts. They are replacing the fence fabric as well.

Reservations and Communication
ARPD has an Athletic Facility Allocation policy in which 50% of the courts at all tennis court facilities must be kept unreserved and available for public use. In addition, the policy has levels of reservation priority with City programs, schools and youth teams being top priorities then adult teams such as ATC with individual reservations being last priority. Therefore, ATC will always have reservation priority over individuals. And individual reservations are not actively marketed by ARPD and are infrequently utilized. ATC was agreeable with this approach.

ARPD aims to meet with ATC every three to six months and met with them in August 2023, January 2024 and June 2024. ARPD wants to continue with a productive partnership with ATC.

Thank you,
Amy

Dear Council Members,
We were asked to consult with ARPD on all things tennis and have volunteered our time since March 15, 2021. During this time, we have accomplished many good things. However,
recent developments have raised significant concerns within our community.

Background and Communication Issues
When we first met with the new ARPD leadership, it took several months to secure a meeting, which finally occurred in August 2023. At that time, we handed them a copy of the rules we had created with former ARPD leadership in November
2021, which still needed to be posted at all tennis court locations. Despite our efforts, communication challenges persisted and were only partially addressed after we wrote to the city council in December 2023.

During our January 12, 2024 meeting, we requested that
ARPD show us the rules they were printing for all locations and ensure the tennis courts at WAPA were properly marked with a sign for the “Joan Fairfield Tennis Complex.” ARPD leadership refused to show us the rules, leaving us out of the process altogether, saying they were already in production and that they would get an estimate for the Joan Fairfield Tennis Complex sign. Despite following up, we still have not
received a response or update on the estimate for the Joan Fairfield Tennis Complex sign.

Sign Installation and Issues
The long-awaited signs listing the rules for all tennis court locations were only posted at WAPA Fairfield tennis Complex and were installed on Tuesday, July 2nd. Many of us from the Alameda Tennis Coalition were present. While the signs look great from a distance, there were several changes made
against our requests, and the municipal codes were missing, contrary to what was agreed upon by the ATC and previous ARPD leadership:

1. No mention of "Tennis only."

2. "Alameda tennis courts are available for rental by
individuals and groups."

Additionally, ARPD used an old faded sign to explain the clock system at WAPA. We had discussed a more
comprehensive sign to help everyone understand the tennis court clock functions. As of July 22, 2024, there are still no signs at Franklin, Krusi or Leydecker courts.

Inconsistencies and Conflicts
In our June 24, 2024 meeting before the signs went up, ARPD leadership assured us face-to-face that all tennis court locations (excluding Leydecker’s court 1) were designated for tennis only. However, subsequent clarifications revealed that ARPD leadership had communicated differently with
pickleball players. This inconsistency has led to several misunderstandings and conflicts.

If any of you have witnessed or been part of the arguments that have started with rogue Pickleball players attempting to play pickleball at WAPA, you know that we are doing our best to help our community by following the responsible route. These rogue players are not part of the Alameda
Pickleball group we assisted for eight months last year. They are making up their own rules, which has caused much
contention over the past two years, including two police reports and an official military demotion due to abusive behavior.

Without clear rules, clock instructions, and municipal codes, these conflicts will continue. Displaying municipal codes ensures that everyone has access to the same information, fostering a fair and equitable system of governance. The vagueness of ARPD’s actions, bot
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: Our Requests and Recommendations
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 6:10:35 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>
Date: Jul 29, 2024 8:24 AM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Our Requests and Recommendations
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>,ARPD <[email protected]>,Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]> Cc: charlie dewett <[email protected]>,Ed Setton <[email protected]> Dear Council Members,
We would like to clarify our requests and recommendations. Below, you will find our proposed rules, which include tennis-only regulations, clock instructions, and municipal codes (placeholder). Please note that Leydecker, with its shared court, will require more specific guidelines.

It has also come to our attention that these rules need to be displayed on all Alameda city tennis court webpages and included in rental agreements. Over the weekend, we encountered a group of pickleball players who had rented a single tennis court at WAPA for an hour and received approval from ARPD phone support. The players mentioned that they rented the court through their organization and noted that the rental forms did not specify whether the courts were for tennis or pickleball.

We look forward to discussing this matter further at our meeting with ARPD this Friday and appreciate your attention to these requests.

Sincerely,
Thank you,
Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewitt and Ed Setton
On Behalf of The Alameda Tennis Coalition
Alameda Tennis Court and Hitting Wall Rules
General Information:

Courts are open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk.

Lighted courts are available until 10 PM.

Courts are for tennis only. No pickleball, soccer, handball, or any other sports allowed.

Courts are free on a first-come, first-serve basis unless rented.

Walk-on play is limited to 60 minutes for singles or doubles play and 30 minutes for a single player when others are waiting. Due to high use at the Joan Fairfield Tennis Complex at Washington Park, single players are not allowed to play while others are waiting to use the court. Hitting walls are limited to 30 minutes.

Only non-marking court shoes are allowed on courts.

Small children must be supervised and playing tennis.

Pets, bicycles, skateboards, skates, smoking, food, gum, and beverages (except water) are prohibited.

Players are responsible for their equipment and must dispose of trash and recycling, including balls, properly.

Clock System:

All players must use the clock system for tennis play.

Players must be physically present while waiting for a court.

Players must set the clock at the time court possession begins. Do not reset the clock during play.

Rackets or other items hung on pegs under the clocks from left to right will determine the first player waiting.

The first player waiting is allowed the first available court.

Failure to set the court clock will result in loss of the court.

A verbal request should be made to those currently on the desired court or backboard.

Priority and Permits:

All private classes, organized practices, and tournaments must be permitted by ARPD.

ARPD programs, permits, and maintenance have priority over public play.

No unauthorized paid private instruction allowed.

Etiquette:

Do not disrupt play when entering a court or retrieving balls.

Keep noise to an appropriate level to help players focus and enjoy the game.

Players must adhere to proper tennis etiquette, including respecting other players on adjacent courts, and refraining from using foul language or disruptive behavior.

Use outer gates to walk onto available courts and avoid interruption of play.

Rentals:

Rentals are available through the ARPD office at [email protected] or (510) 747-7529, with up to 50% of courts available for rental for teams and groups.

Rentals have a 10-minute grace period to begin play, after which it is forfeited.

Rental groups must possess a permit during play.

City of Alameda Policies and Procedures:

All users must abide by City of Alameda Park Policy and Procedures.

Violations of any of these rules may result in suspension or revocation of court privileges or a permanent ban from the park.

These rules are subject to change; players are responsible for staying informed of updates.

Any damage to the court or facility must be reported to ARPD.

All of the above are enforceable by the Alameda Municipal Code Sections: 4-10, 8-7, 11-4, 18-22, 23-1, 23-2, 23- 7, 24-11.

From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: Re: *Corrected email to Assistant City Manager Wooldridge re no pickleball signage Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 6:02:39 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>
Date: Aug 19, 2024 2:30 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: *Corrected email to Assistant City Manager Wooldridge re no pickleball signage
To: Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>
Cc: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>,Jennifer Ott <[email protected]>,Justin Long <[email protected]>,Yibin Shen <[email protected]>,Ed Setton <[email protected]>,Charlie Dewett <[email protected]>,Pat Russi <[email protected]>
Dear Assistant City Manager Wooldridge,
Even if the "no pickleball" rule at Franklin, Krusi, and Longfellow courts isn't officially approved yet, it's already being treated as a policy. Saying there’s no approved policy is just playing with words—it doesn’t change the fact that this rule is in place. If it's being enforced in any way, the public needs to know about it clearly. Specific signs are necessary to avoid confusion and ensure everyone follows the rules. No signs mean no clear policy for the public, which has lead to the ongoing issues.

The city should acknowledge the current understanding that pickleball isn’t allowed on these courts and put up signs to make it clear to everyone.

Sincerely,
Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewett, and Ed Setton
On behalf of the Alameda Tennis Coalition
On Aug 19, 2024, at 2:02 PM, Amy Wooldridge
<[email protected]> wrote:

Hello Councilmember Herrera Spencer,

Please see my responses to your questions below in red.

Thank you,
Amy

Amy Wooldridge, she/her
Assistant City Manager
[email protected]
(510) 747-4709

From: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2024 1:49 PM
To: Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>
Cc: Jennifer Ott <[email protected]>; Justin Long <[email protected]>; Yibin Shen <[email protected]>; Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>; Ed Setton <[email protected]>; Charlie Dewett <[email protected]> Subject: RE: *Corrected email to Assistant City Manager Wooldridge re no pickleball signage

Dear City Staff,

Is it possible to receive a written response to my/this email?

While I appreciate that Assistant City Manager called me, I think it's appropriate for City Staff to respond in writing specifically to my two questions so that we all know Staff’s responses. Unfortunately, I don't think staff has clearly responded.

I'd like to confirm in writing staff's positions.

As I've shared with staff, I'm planning to do a referral which is due at 3 p.m. today, depending upon staff's responses.

Thank you.

Trish Herrera Spencer
Councilmember

On Aug 16, 2024 2:59 PM, Trish Spencer <[email protected] >
wrote:
*Corrected to replace Longfellow with Leydecker where appropriate (i.e., no pickleball at Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow).

Dear Assistant City Manager Wooldridge/Amy,

It feels like you may not be understanding me. I'm happy to try to clarify. Your responses appear to ignore or disregard my concerns.

1. I'm not asking for, "a policy of no pickleball on all tennis courts." It's my understanding that the current policy (whether a pilot or not) is no pickleball at Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow. That's correct, right? There is not an approved policy of “no pickleball” at Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow courts. This is the policy that Director Long intends to bring to the Recreation and Parks Commission for discussion in October. Whether it’s stated as “tennis only” or “no pickleball”, it would be for all courts that are not already striped for pickleball. It is standard practice for the Commission to approve departmental policies.

2. "Justin has also been clear that ARPD does not have the staffing to actively enforce no pickleball at tennis courts. Sometimes a sign is still helpful as it gives the public something to point to." I agree that signage is helpful. Thus, since there's a current policy (whether a pilot program or not), of no pickleball at Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow, why isn't the City posting that on those courts? If it's not posted, it doesn't exist. The public-at-large does not know without posting. Do you think the public thinks signage of "no bikes, no rollerskates and no dogs" means "no pickleball"? That's the City’s proposal.

As stated above, “no pickleball” for Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow is not yet an approved policy. ARPD has posted signage at all courts to encourage pickleball players to use the appropriate courts at Lincoln and Leydecker Parks and their front desk staff has been trained to tell people to use those courts for pickleball.

I'm asking for signage that clearly reflects the current policy of no pickleball at Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow. If the signage doesn't say no pickleball at those courts and staff doesn't have the staffing (which I get), then it falls on the tennis players themselves to try to enforce a policy that's not posted, which is extremely challenging and can create an untenable situation. I'd hope that staff does not want to create confusion. The signs could be temporary but they should still be posted by the City.

I'm including the City Attorney and the community representatives that have repeatedly asked for this clear signage because I think the City is unnecessarily creating a challenging situation for court users by not posting signage that reflects the current policy (i.e., no pickleball at Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow).

Thank you for your consideration.

Trish

Trish Herrera Spencer
Councilmember

On Aug 16, 2024 2:13 PM, Trish Spencer
<[email protected]
> wrote:

Dear Assistant City Manager Wooldridge/Amy,

It feels like you may not be understanding me. I'm happy to try to clarify. Your responses appear to ignore or disregard my concerns.

I'm asking for signage that clearly reflects the current policy of no pickleball at Franklin, Krusi and Leydecker. If the signage doesn't say no pickleball at those courts and staff doesn't have the staffing (which I get), then it falls on the tennis players themselves to try to enforce a policy that's not posted, which is extremely challenging and can create an untenable situation. I'd hope that staff does not want to create confusion. The signs could be temporary but they should still be posted by the City.

Thank you for your consideration.

Trish

Trish Herrera Spencer
Councilmember
510-552-0555

On Aug 16, 2024 11:21 AM, Amy Wooldridge
<[email protected]
> wrote:

Hi Trish,

Justin is addressing this by bringing an item to the Recreation and Parks Commission in October for their decision on whether to implement a policy of no pickleball on all tennis courts. Creating a policy like this should go hand in hand with whether the pilot is determined that it will end or continue as an ongoing change at Leydecker. Staff has been evaluating the Leydecker pickleball pilot and will make a recommendation on that to the Commission as well. Major departmental policies that impact the public such as these are approved by the Commission, not on a staff level.

Justin has also been clear that ARPD does not have the staffing to actively enforce no pickleball at tennis courts. Sometimes a sign is still helpful as it gives the public something to point to.

Thanks,
Amy

Amy Wooldridge
Assistant City Manager, City of Alameda
(510) 747-4709
[email protected]
www.alamedaca.gov

From: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2024 9:46 AM
To: Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>
Cc: Jennifer Ott <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Pickleball emails to City Council

Hi Amy,

Thanks for the update. I look forward to all of the documents.

I don't understand why staff wouldn't include "no pickleball" on the signage.

If that's the "pilot," why wouldn't staff clearly try to enforce it?

The noise concerns are real. It's my understanding someone moved from Lincoln pickleball courts over this noise issue.

https://www.paddletek.com/blogs/news/noise-issue-pickleball

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/sports/pickleball-noise-complaints- lawsuits.html

I also serve on the Oakland Airport Community Noise Forum. The impacts of noise, in my opinion, should be taken seriously by government and the City.

Thank you.

Trish

Trish Herrera Spencer Councilmember

On Aug 16, 2024 7:47 AM, Amy Wooldridge
<[email protected]
> wrote:

Hello Trish,

Staff is working on completing your public records search regarding pickleball. In the meantime, attached is the communication that Justin sent to City Council about the pickleball pilot program at Leydecker as well other email communications with the community and the Rec and Parks Commission staff report that is referenced – all about not moving forward with the striping project at Krusi (to restripe the tennis courts so one would be combined tennis/pickleball) rather than a broad policy decision on what uses are allowed on the tennis courts.

I anticipate that staff will have all of the documents uploaded for the public records request by the end of next week.

Thank you,
Amy

Amy Wooldridge
Assistant City Manager, City of Alameda
(510) 747-4709
[email protected]
www.alamedaca.gov

From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: Re: From the ATC: Urgent Request for Amendment to Signs and Proper Labeling of Fairfield Tennis Complex
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 6:12:27 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>
Date: Aug 8, 2024 1:45 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: From the ATC: Urgent Request for Amendment to Signs and Proper Labeling of Fairfield Tennis Complex
To: Justin Long <[email protected]>
Cc: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>,Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>,charlie dewett <[email protected]>,Ed Setton <[email protected]>
Dear Justin,
With all due respect, based on our experience over the past 3 1/2 years, it has become clear that Pickleball players need explicit "Tennis Only" signage to understand that these courts are not intended for Pickleball use. The current approach by ARPD, without this clarity, is why we feel it's necessary to advocate for proper signage at all tennis court locations.

We respectfully disagree with your assessment of what is needed. We believe that the lack of clear, specific signage leads to ongoing confusion and undermines the intended use of these courts.

Your stance on this matter is clear, and we want to be equally clear about ours. We will be pursuing the installation of "Tennis Only" signs at the remaining courts to ensure the situation is addressed properly.

Thank you,
Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewitt and Ed Setton
On Behalf of the Alameda Tennis Coalition
On Aug 8, 2024, at 12:30 PM, Justin Long <[email protected]> wrote:

Council Member Herrera Spencer,

ARPD is not promoting pickleball at any park locations other than Lincoln Park and Leydecker. The tennis rules signs also identify other types of uses that are not acceptable “No pets, skateboards, bicycles, or similar equipment”. ARPD is placing laminated signs at Krusi, Franklin, and Longfellow letting community members know where pickleball is acceptable.

Thank you,
Justin Long
Director of Recreation and Parks

From: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 8, 2024 9:26 AM
To: Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>
Cc: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>; charlie dewett <[email protected]>; Ed Setton <[email protected]>; Justin Long <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: From the ATC: Urgent Request for Amendment to Signs and Proper Labeling of Fairfield Tennis Complex

Hi Dir. Wooldridge,

It was my understanding that, at least in regards to Krusi, neighbors expressed concerns in regards to the noise levels of pickleball, as the courts are very close to housing, and that the City agreed. If so, why wouldn't the City address that? I'm not sure if similar issues were raised at the other parks.

Thank you.

Trish Herrera Spencer
Councilmember

On Aug 8, 2024 9:19 AM, Amy Wooldridge
<[email protected]
> wrote:

Hello Councilmember Herrera Spencer,

Thank you,
Amy

Amy Wooldridge, she/her
Assistant City Manager
[email protected]
(510) 747-4709

Hi Assistant City Manager Wooldridge/Amy,

Thank you for this comprehensive update.

Thanks.

Trish

Trish Herrera Spencer
Councilmember

On Aug 6, 2024 5:21 PM, Amy Wooldridge <[email protected] >
wrote:

Hello Mayor and City Councilmembers,

On Friday, Aug. 2, Justin Long and Amy Wooldridge met with Kristin Fairfield and Charlie Dewitt from the Alameda Tennis Coalition (ATC), copied here.

We had a productive meeting and came to resolution on all of the items raised by ATC, including the following:

Signage
ARPD is adding the Park Rules & Regulations signs next to the Tennis Court Rules. They will add TENNIS ONLY for the Washington Park Tennis Court rules sign. Combined, these signs address all of the rules that ATC requested. They agreed with this approach.

ARPD will post the Tennis Rules and Park Rules &
Regulations at all tennis court facilities.

ARPD provided a draft “Joan Fairfield Tennis Complex” sign which ATC approved. It will be printed and posted at the Washington Park tennis courts.

The clock instruction signage at Washington Park was
previously moved to be next to the clocks and ARPD will reprint and replace the existing faded signs. Everyone agreed the new location works. In addition, language will be added to the Tennis Rules sign and on the bulletin board that all players must use clocks for play.

ARPD will add clock instruction signage at the other tennis locations that have clocks. ARPD will also research clocks to add at Franklin and Longfellow courts.

Tennis only
Washington Park Tennis Courts will be designated for tennis only. This information will be included on the signage (as indicated above) as well as the reservation forms. For now, one additional sign clearly stating, “Tennis Only”, will be added at Washington Park. If it’s determined at a later date that more of these signs are needed, then ATC will communicate that to ARPD.

ARPD front desk staff will also be trained so they are providing the public with accurate information.

ARPD aims to meet with ATC every three to six months and met with them in August 2023, January 2024 and June 2024.

ARPD wants to continue with a productive partnership with ATC.

Thank you,
Amy

Amy Wooldridge, she/her
Assistant City Manager
[email protected]
(510) 747-4709
From: Kristin Fairfield
<[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 3:52 PM
To: CityCouncil-List <CITYCOUNCIL-
[email protected]>
Cc: ARPD <[email protected]>; charlie dewett
<[email protected]
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: Re: Is pickleball allowed at Krusi, Franklin and Longfellow? Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 6:08:34 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>
Date: Aug 13, 2024 9:32 AM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Is pickleball allowed at Krusi, Franklin and Longfellow? To: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>
Cc: charlie dewett <[email protected]>,Ed Setton
<[email protected]>,Jennifer Ott <[email protected]>,Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>,Justin Long <[email protected]>,Yibin Shen <[email protected]>
Thank you Councilmember Trish.

We appreciate you looking further into our request about this issue and we will be review whatever documents the City Clerk produces.

Sincerely,
Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewitt and Ed Setton
On Aug 12, 2024, at 10:16 PM, Trish Spencer <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Ms. Fairfield and Messrs. Dewitt and Setton,
Thank you for your comprehensive email regarding the history of this issue.

Today I filed a request for public records with the City Clerk. I've attached a copy for your review. Here's the link you can follow to see documents produced. The records will be made available to the public via this link. https://cityofalamedaca.nextrequest.com/requests/24-288 Thank you for your continued efforts to resolve this issue.

Sincerely,
Trish Herrera Spencer
Councilmember
510-552-0555
On Aug 9, 2024 11:59 AM, Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello Everyone,
Here’s a brief overview of our history, which some of you may not be familiar with, and our request to now involve the city council.

On March 11, 2021, ARPD attempted to convert Court 4 at WAPA into four pickleball courts. This action led to the formation of the ATC. We gathered signatures, sent emails, and had speakers at the meeting, resulting in the Parks Commission's decision not to allow pickleball on Court 4 at WAPA or any other tennis courts at that time.

Two years later, on March 23, 2023, at 3 p.m. (during work hours), ARPD hosted a community meeting, notifying the ATC with just a single sign at WAPA and Krusi, and reaching out to approximately 2,000 Krusi neighbors regarding a proposal to make some courts at Krusi Park multi-use for both tennis and pickleball. About 50 people attended the meeting, but we believe more would have participated had they been given more than six days' notice and if the meeting had been scheduled after work hours.

The ATC, the pickleball group, and the Krusi neighbors—who formed a neighborhood alliance to stop the pickleball proposal—attended, but the meeting was a disaster, with strong opposition voiced by residents from both Krusi and Longfellow. Following that meeting, the ATC reached out to the pickleball community and the Krusi neighbors to work toward a solution. We collaborated with ARPD and the pickleball group for eight months, including meetings with the Krusi neighborhood group, to find new locations for additional pickleball courts. The Krusi neighbors were adamantly opposed to pickleball and even threatened legal action against the city. Due to these reasons and the intense opposition, ARPD ultimately decided against using the Krusi location for pickleball.

We want to share that at one point we had proposed sound testing at Krusi, but ARPD expanded the testing to include all tennis courts in Alameda, which undermined our efforts. We had already agreed with the pickleball group that WAPA, Franklin, Leydecker, and Longfellow would not be considered for pickleball, but ARPD insisted, leading us to withdraw our support and efforts with the Alameda pickleball group. Despite these challenges, during those eight months of volunteering, we successfully advocated for the timely construction of new pickleball courts on the west side. Our efforts also indirectly contributed to the creation of the shared court at Leydecker.

We fell that ARPD continues to undermine our efforts by revisiting this issue without openly stating their intentions, which wastes time and taxpayer money. Why are we revisiting this matter when we just allocated Court 1 at Leydecker to the pickleball group? Over the past two years, pickleball has significantly expanded its locations in Alameda, thanks in part to our efforts.

They began with four courts and now have an additional four at Leydecker, with plans for 4-6 more near the base. Pickleball now has almost as many courts as tennis in Alameda. There are also two private clubs in Alameda that have pickleball as well.

Despite our collaboration with ARPD since March 2021, we find ourselves repeatedly needing to involve the city council. Are we going to have to go through this process every two years?
ARPD’s continued actions creates unnecessary conflict and confusion. We believe it is time for the city council to become more involved. There was a clear public process for deciding which tennis courts might allow pickleball, and it was explicitly decided not to allow it at Krusi or the other locations.

However, it was permitted at Leydecker, which the ATC supported because the neighbors approved it, and the Leydecker courts did not utilize WW funding.

We can mobilize the neighbors and our community again, but we would prefer not to waste everyone’s time. We’d like this issue to be resolved once and for all, so we don’t have to revisit it every two years. While we understand that some issues need to be revisited periodically, instead of repeatedly spending time and resources on this, why can’t ARPD focus on looking toward the future and building a new facility—perhaps one designed specifically for shared use?
Sincerely,
Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewitt and Ed Setton
On Behalf of The Alameda Tennis Coalition
On Aug 9, 2024, at 9:50 AM, Amy Wooldridge
<[email protected]
> wrote:

Hello Councilmember Herrera Spencer,

I’m chiming in to help clarify. The previous public input process was about where pickleball courts would be added and striped in addition to the tennis courts. Leydecker was ultimately chosen as the pilot location and from what I hear, it’s going well. That public process was not about the policy on who is or isn’t allowed to use the tennis courts.

ARPD’s policy has always been that any use that damages the courts, such as soccer or dogs, is not allowed.

Justin is already planning to have that public discussion about the policy with the Recreation and Parks
Commission in October. He will outreach to both the tennis and pickleball communities to ensure they are included in the conversation.

I believe Justin has a good path forward to have
appropriate public engagement on this issue and the
Commission will provide direction to staff, as they do for departmental policies.

Thank you,
Amy

Amy Wooldridge
Assistant City Manager, City of Alameda
(510) 747-4709
[email protected]
www.alamedaca.gov

From: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 8, 2024 4:21 PM
To: Justin Long <[email protected]>
Cc: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>; Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>; charlie dewett
<[email protected]>; Ed
Setton <[email protected]>; Jennifer Ott
<[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Is pickleball allowed at Krusi, Franklin and Longfellow?

Hi Dir. Long,

Thank you for your response but I think the City already had a public process and agreed to no pickleball at Krusi, Franklin and Longfellow. Community meetings were held.

Maybe it was prior to your start with the City.

For background, neighbors have been adamant in regards
to noise concerns and pickleball and tennis players have also been involved for court access. The City, I thought, was fair in regards to its resolution of trying to
accommodate all interests.

That being said, in regards to your response:

"The tennis rules signs also identify other types of uses that are not acceptable “No pets, skateboards, bicycles, or similar equipment”[.]

do you think that pickleball is "similar equipment" to
skateboards and bicycles? I don't think most of us do.

Thus, I'm concerned that the proposed signage does not
communicate clearly that pickleball is not allowed.

However, maybe City staff’s current position is that
pickleball is now allowed at Krusi, Franklin and Longfellow.

Please clarify.

Thank you.

Trish Herrera Spencer
Councilmember

On Aug 8, 2024 3:53 PM, Justin Long
<[email protected]
> wrote:

Kristin,

I full appreciate and understand your perspective on the matter. I will start the formal process in October with the Recreation and Parks commission to review our current rules and policy. This will allow for public input from the community and be an open process. I look forward to working with you on that.

Thank you,
Justin Long

From: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 8, 2024 1:45 PM
To: Justin Long <[email protected]>
Cc: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>; Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>; charlie dewett
<[email protected]>; Ed
Setton <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: From the ATC: Urgent Request for Amendment to Signs and Proper Labeling of Fairfield Tennis Complex

Dear Justin,
With all due respect, based on our experience over the past 3 1/2 years, it has become clear that Pickleball players need explicit "Tennis Only" signage to understand that these courts are not intended for Pickleball use. The current approach by ARPD, without this clarity, is why we feel it's necessary to advocate for proper signage at all tennis court locations.

We respectfully disagree with your assessment of what is needed. We believe that the lack of clear, specific signage leads to ongoing confusion and undermines the intended use of these courts.

Thank you,

Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewitt and Ed Setton
On Behalf of the Alameda Tennis Coalition

On Aug 8, 2024, at 12:30 PM, Justin Long
<[email protected]
> wrote:

Council Member Herrera Spencer,

ARPD is not promoting pickleball at any park
locations other than Lincoln Park and Leydecker.

The tennis rules signs also identify other types of
uses that are not acceptable “No pets,
skateboards, bicycles, or similar
equipment”. ARPD is placing laminated signs at
Krusi, Franklin, and Longfellow letting community
members know where pickleball is acceptable.

Thank you,
Justin Long
Director of Recreation and Parks

From: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 8, 2024 9:26 AM
To: Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>
Cc: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>;
charlie dewett <[email protected]>; Ed
Setton <[email protected]>; Justin Long
<[email protected]>
Subject: RE: From the ATC: Urgent Request for
Amendment to Signs and Proper Labeling of Fairfield
Tennis Complex

Hi Dir. Wooldridge,

It was my understanding that, at least in regards to
Krusi, neighbors expressed concerns in regards to
the noise levels of pickleball, as the courts are very
close to housing, and that the City agreed. If so, why
wouldn't the City address that? I'm not sure if similar issues were raised at the other parks.

Thank you.

Trish Herrera Spencer
Councilmember

On Aug 8, 2024 9:19 AM, Amy Wooldridge
<[email protected]
> wrote:

Hello Councilmember Herrera Spencer,

Pickleball is not actively encouraged at the other
locations but is also not enforced is someone
drops in to play it at one of those courts. I’ll let
Justin chime in if he has additional information.

Thank you,
Amy

Amy Wooldridge, she/her
Assistant City Manager
[email protected]
(510) 747-4709

From: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 8, 2024 9:15 AM
To: Amy Wooldridge
<[email protected]>
Cc: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>;
charlie dewett <[email protected]>; Ed
Setton <[email protected]>; Justin Long
<[email protected]>
Subject: RE: From the ATC: Urgent Request for
Amendment to Signs and Proper Labeling of
Fairfield Tennis Complex

Hi Assistant City Manager Wooldridge/Amy,

Thank you for this comprehensive update.

What is the status in regards to allowing non-
tennis activities at Franklin, Krusi and Leydecker?
Is pickleball allowed at those parks? It is my
recollection that pickleball is not allowed at least
at Krusi.

Thanks.

Trish

Trish Herrera Spencer
Councilmember

On Aug 6, 2024 5:21 PM, Amy Wooldridge
<[email protected]> wrote:

Hello Mayor and City Councilmembers,

On Friday, Aug. 2, Justin Long and Amy
Wooldridge met with Kristin Fairfield and
Charlie Dewitt from the Alameda Tennis
Coalition (ATC), copied here. We had a
productive meeting and came to resolution on
all of the items raised by ATC, including the
following:

Signage
ARPD is adding the Park Rules &
Regulations signs next to the
Tennis Court Rules. They will add
TENNIS ONLY for the Washington
Park Tennis Court rules sign.

Combined, these signs address all
of the rules that ATC requested.

They agreed with this approach.

ARPD will post the Tennis Rules
and Park Rules & Regulations at all
tennis court facilities.

ARPD provided a draft “Joan
Fairfield Tennis Complex” sign
which ATC approved. It will be
printed and posted at the
Washington Park tennis courts.

The clock instruction signage at
Washington Park was previously
moved to be next to the clocks and
ARPD will reprint and replace the
existing faded signs. Everyone
agreed the new location works. In
addition, language will be added to
the Tennis Rules sign and on the
bulletin board that all players must
use clocks for play.

ARPD will add clock instruction
signage at the other tennis locations
that have clocks. ARPD will also
research clocks to add at Franklin
and Longfellow courts.

Tennis only
Washington Park Tennis Courts will
be designated for tennis only. This
information will be included on the
signage (as indicated above) as
well as the reservation forms. For
now, one additional sign clearly
stating, “Tennis Only”, will be added
at Washington Park. If it’s
determined at a later date that more
of these signs are needed, then
ATC will communicate that to
ARPD.

ARPD front desk staff will also be
trained so they are providing the
public with accurate information.

ATC was amenable to this
approach
Safety
ARPD is adding 10-feet of netting
along the softball side of the courts
to prevent softballs from landing on
the courts. They are replacing the
fence fabric as well.

Therefore, ATC will always have
reservation priority over individuals.

And individual reservations are not
actively marketed by ARPD and are
infrequently utilized. ATC was
agreeable with this approach.

ARPD aims to meet with ATC every
three to six months and met with
them in August 2023, January 2024
and June 2024. ARPD wants to
continue with a productive
partnership with ATC.

Thank you,
Amy

Amy Wooldridge, she/her
Assistant City Manager
[email protected]
(510) 747-4709
From: Kristin Fairfield
<kristinfairfield19@g
mail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 23,
2024 3:52 PM
To: CityCouncil-List
<CITYCOUNCIL-
[email protected]>
Cc: ARPD
<[email protected]
ov>; charlie dewett
<mcenroe005479@ya
hoo.com>; Ed
Setton <edgar.setton
@gmail.com>
Subject: [EXTERNAL]
From the ATC: Urgent
Request for
Amendment to Signs
and Proper Labeling of
Fairfield Tennis
Complex

Dear Council Members,
We were asked to consult
with ARPD on all things
tennis and have
volunteered our time
since March 15, 2021.

During this time, we have
accomplished many good
things. However, recent
developments have raised
significant concerns
within our community.

Background and
Communication Issues
When we first met with
the new ARPD
leadership, it took several
months to secure a
meeting, which finally
occurred in August 2023.

At that time, we handed
them a copy of the rules
we had created with
former ARPD leadership
in November 2021, which
still needed to be posted
at all tennis court
locations. Despite our
efforts, communication
challenges persisted and
were only partially
addressed after we wrote
to the city council in
December 2023.

During our January 12,
2024 meeting, we
requested that ARPD
show us the rules they
were printing for all
locations and ensure the
tennis courts at WAPA
were properly marked
with a sign for the “Joan
Fairfield Tennis
Complex.” ARPD
leadership refused to
show us the rules, leaving
us out of the process
altogether, saying they
were already in
production and that they
would get an estimate for
the Joan Fairfield Tennis
Complex sign. Despite
following up, we still
have not received a
response or update on the
estimate for the Joan
Fairfield Tennis Complex
sign.

While the signs look great
from a distance, there
were several changes
made against our
requests, and the
municipal codes were
missing, contrary to what
was agreed upon by the
ATC and previous ARPD
leadership:

1. No mention of
"Tennis only."

2. "Alameda tennis
courts are
available for
rental by
individuals and
groups."

Additionally, ARPD used
an old faded sign to
explain the clock system
at WAPA. We had
discussed a more
comprehensive sign to
help everyone understand
the tennis court clock
functions. As of July 22,
2024, there are still no
signs at Franklin, Krusi or
Leydecker courts.

Inconsistencies and
Conflicts
In our June 24, 2024
meeting before the signs
went up, ARPD
leadership assured us
face-to-face that all tennis
court locations (excluding
Leydecker’s court 1) were
designated for tennis
only. However,
subsequent clarifications
revealed that ARPD
leadership had
communicated differently
with pickleball players.

This inconsistency has led
to several
misunderstandings and
conflicts.

These rogue players are
not part of the Alameda
Pickleball group we
assisted for eight months
last year. They are
making up their own
rules, which has caused
much contention over the
past two years, including
two police reports and an
official military demotion
due to abusive behavior.

Without clear rules, clock
instructions, and
municipal codes, these
conflicts will continue.

Displaying municipal
codes ensures that
everyone has access to
the same information,
fostering a fair and
equitable system of
governance. The
vagueness of ARPD’s
actions, both verbally and
in omitting “tennis only”
and the municipal codes
from the signs, is creating
ongoing conflicts. This
situation, which should be
easily fixable, is instead
leading to unnecessary
misunderstandings and
disputes. We view this as
irresponsible and
dysfunctional behavior.

Community Impact and
Urgent Requests
Our community
welcomes new players,
educates them about our
tennis courts, and helps
them connect with others.

This sense of community
is why WAPA’s Fairfield
Tennis Complex is the
most popular place for
tennis. Players talk, help,
and enjoy tennis together.

Individual reservations
could lead to resentment
and disrupt the harmony
we have developed within
the Alameda Tennis
Coalition. People would
"kick" each other off
courts with reservation
receipts, undermining the
sense of community.

We urge you to have
ARPD replace all the
signs with new ones that
include the correct rules
and properly label the
Joan Fairfield Tennis
Complex. Obtaining
estimates and printing
these signs should not be
taking so long. We
request that these
amendments be made as
soon as possible, and we
hope you recognize the
importance of this issue
and address it promptly.

We have volunteered our
time over the past three-
plus years to improve
relations between the
tennis community and
ARPD. With ARPD's
newly appointed
leadership, we hope that
the City Council will hear
our voice and ensure the
needs of our community
are met.

Thank you for your
attention.

Sincerely,
Kristin Fairfield,
Charlie Dewitt and Ed
Setton
On Behalf of The
Alameda Tennis
Coalition
<Screenshot_20240812_215952_Samsung Internet.jpg>
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: From the ATC: Urgent Request for Amendment to Signs and Proper Labeling of Fairfield Tennis Complex Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 10:12:05 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>
Date: Jul 23, 2024 3:52 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] From the ATC: Urgent Request for Amendment to Signs and Proper Labeling of Fairfield Tennis Complex
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>
Cc: ARPD <[email protected]>,charlie dewett <[email protected]>,Ed Setton <[email protected]>
Dear Council Members,
We were asked to consult with ARPD on all things tennis and have volunteered our time since March 15, 2021.

During this time, we have accomplished many good things. However, recent developments have raised significant concerns within our community.

Background and Communication Issues
When we first met with the new ARPD leadership, it took several months to secure a meeting, which finally occurred in August 2023. At that time, we handed them a copy of the rules we had created with former ARPD leadership in November 2021, which still needed to be posted at all tennis court locations. Despite our efforts, communication challenges persisted and were only partially addressed after we wrote to the city council in December 2023.

During our January 12, 2024 meeting, we requested that ARPD show us the rules they were printing for all locations and ensure the tennis courts at WAPA were properly marked with a sign for the “Joan Fairfield Tennis
Complex.” ARPD leadership refused to show us the rules, leaving us out of the process altogether, saying they were already in production and that they would get an estimate for the Joan Fairfield Tennis Complex sign.

Despite following up, we still have not received a response or update on the estimate for the Joan Fairfield Tennis Complex sign.

While the signs look great from a distance, there were several changes made against our requests, and the municipal codes were missing, contrary to what was agreed upon by the ATC and previous ARPD leadership:

1. No mention of "Tennis only."

2. "Alameda tennis courts are available for rental by individuals and groups." Additionally, ARPD used an old faded sign to explain the clock system at WAPA. We had discussed a more comprehensive sign to help everyone understand the tennis court clock functions. As of July 22, 2024, there are still no signs at Franklin, Krusi or Leydecker courts.

Inconsistencies and Conflicts
In our June 24, 2024 meeting before the signs went up, ARPD leadership assured us face-to-face that all tennis court locations (excluding Leydecker’s court 1) were designated for tennis only. However, subsequent clarifications revealed that ARPD leadership had communicated differently with pickleball players. This inconsistency has led to several misunderstandings and conflicts.

If any of you have witnessed or been part of the arguments that have started with rogue Pickleball players attempting to play pickleball at WAPA, you know that we are doing our best to help our community by following the responsible route. These rogue players are not part of the Alameda Pickleball group we assisted for eight months last year. They are making up their own rules, which has caused much contention over the past two years, including two police reports and an official military demotion due to abusive behavior.

Community Impact and Urgent Requests
Our community welcomes new players, educates them about our tennis courts, and helps them connect with others. This sense of community is why WAPA’s
Fairfield Tennis Complex is the most popular place for tennis.

Players talk, help, and enjoy tennis together. Individual reservations could lead to resentment and disrupt the harmony we have developed within the Alameda Tennis Coalition. People would "kick" each other off courts with reservation receipts, undermining the sense of community.

We urge you to have ARPD replace all the signs with new ones that include the correct rules and properly label the Joan
Fairfield Tennis Complex. Obtaining estimates and printing these signs should not be taking so long. We request that these amendments be made as soon as possible, and we hope you recognize the importance of this issue and address it promptly.

We have volunteered our time over the past three-plus years to improve relations between the tennis community and ARPD. With ARPD's newly appointed leadership, we hope that the City Council will hear our voice and ensure the needs of our community are met.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,
Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewitt and Ed Setton
On Behalf of The Alameda Tennis Coalition
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: Our Requests and Recommendations
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 10:13:31 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kristin Fairfield <[email protected]>
Date: Jul 29, 2024 8:24 AM
Subject: Our Requests and Recommendations
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>,ARPD <[email protected]>,Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]> Cc: charlie dewett <[email protected]>,Ed Setton <[email protected]> Dear Council Members,
We would like to clarify our requests and recommendations. Below, you will find our proposed rules, which include tennis-only regulations, clock instructions, and municipal codes (placeholder). Please note that Leydecker, with its shared court, will require more specific guidelines.

We look forward to discussing this matter further at our meeting with ARPD this Friday and appreciate your attention to these requests.

Sincerely,
Thank you,
Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewitt and Ed Setton
On Behalf of The Alameda Tennis Coalition
Alameda Tennis Court and Hitting Wall Rules
General Information:

Courts are open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk.

Lighted courts are available until 10 PM.

Courts are for tennis only. No pickleball, soccer, handball, or any other sports allowed.

Courts are free on a first-come, first-serve basis unless rented.

Only non-marking court shoes are allowed on courts.

Small children must be supervised and playing tennis.

Pets, bicycles, skateboards, skates, smoking, food, gum, and beverages (except water) are prohibited.

Players are responsible for their equipment and must dispose of trash and recycling, including balls, properly.

Clock System:

All players must use the clock system for tennis play.

Players must be physically present while waiting for a court.

Players must set the clock at the time court possession begins. Do not reset the clock during play.

Rackets or other items hung on pegs under the clocks from left to right will determine the first player waiting.

The first player waiting is allowed the first available court.

Failure to set the court clock will result in loss of the court.

A verbal request should be made to those currently on the desired court or backboard.

Priority and Permits:

All private classes, organized practices, and tournaments must be permitted by ARPD.

ARPD programs, permits, and maintenance have priority over public play.

No unauthorized paid private instruction allowed.

Etiquette:

Do not disrupt play when entering a court or retrieving balls.

Keep noise to an appropriate level to help players focus and enjoy the game.

Players must adhere to proper tennis etiquette, including respecting other players on adjacent courts, and refraining from using foul language or disruptive behavior.

Use outer gates to walk onto available courts and avoid interruption of play.

Rentals:

Rentals are available through the ARPD office at [email protected] or (510) 747-7529, with up to 50% of courts available for rental for teams and groups.

Rentals have a 10-minute grace period to begin play, after which it is forfeited.

Rental groups must possess a permit during play.

City of Alameda Policies and Procedures:

All users must abide by City of Alameda Park Policy and Procedures.

Violations of any of these rules may result in suspension or revocation of court privileges or a permanent ban from the park.

These rules are subject to change; players are responsible for staying informed of updates.

Any damage to the court or facility must be reported to ARPD.

All of the above are enforceable by the Alameda Municipal Code Sections: 4-10, 8-7, 11-4, 18-22, 23-1, 23-2, 23- 7, 24-11.

From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: RE: Pickleball emails to City Council
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 6:03:51 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>
Date: Aug 16, 2024 2:13 PM
Subject: RE: Pickleball emails to City Council
To: Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>
Cc: Jennifer Ott <[email protected]>,Justin Long <[email protected]>,Yibin Shen <[email protected]>,Kristin Fairfield - Tennis <[email protected]>,Ed Setton - Tennis <[email protected]>,Charlie Dewett - Tennis <[email protected]>
Dear Assistant City Manager Wooldridge/Amy,
It feels like you may not be understanding me. I'm happy to try to clarify. Your responses appear to ignore or disregard my concerns.

1. I'm not asking for, "a policy of no pickleball on all tennis courts." It's my understanding that the current policy (whether a pilot or not) is no pickleball at Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow.

That's correct, right?

I'd hope that staff does not want to create confusion. The signs could be temporary but they should still be posted by the City.

Thank you for your consideration.

Trish
Trish Herrera Spencer
Councilmember
510-552-0555
On Aug 16, 2024 11:21 AM, Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Trish,

Justin has also been clear that ARPD does not have the staffing to actively enforce no pickleball at tennis courts. Sometimes a sign is still helpful as it gives the public something to point to.

Thanks,
Amy

Amy Wooldridge
Assistant City Manager, City of Alameda
(510) 747-4709
[email protected]
www.alamedaca.gov

Hi Amy,

Thanks for the update. I look forward to all of the documents.

I don't understand why staff wouldn't include "no pickleball" on the signage. If that's the "pilot," why wouldn't staff clearly try to enforce it?

The noise concerns are real. It's my understanding someone moved from Lincoln pickleball courts over this noise issue.

https://www.paddletek.com/blogs/news/noise-issue-pickleball

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/sports/pickleball-noise-complaints-lawsuits.html

I also serve on the Oakland Airport Community Noise Forum. The impacts of noise, in my opinion, should be taken seriously by government and the City.

Thank you.

Trish

Trish Herrera Spencer Councilmember

On Aug 16, 2024 7:47 AM, Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello Trish,

I anticipate that staff will have all of the documents uploaded for the public records request by the end of next week.

Thank you,
Amy

Amy Wooldridge
Assistant City Manager, City of Alameda
(510) 747-4709
[email protected]
www.alamedaca.gov

Alameda City CouncilSeptember 3, 2024

Alameda City Council
September 3, 2024