Fate of Pleasanton Park, Tabled Tennis Court Construction Topic of Upcoming Meeting

PLEASANTON, CA — City officials have scheduled a special meeting to consider whether to move forward with an already approved project to build two new tennis courts at a Pleasanton park. The August 9 meeting was scheduled after frustrated residents who live near the Pleasanton Tennis and Community Park said they were not properly notified of the project. Many say they did not know a popular area of the beloved park was slated to become tennis courts until they saw fencing go up around the park about a week ago.

Demolition work was halted earlier this week after hundreds of unhappy residents rallied Sunday night, gathering again early Monday morning. The group chanted "save our park" as the Goodland Construction equipment arrived to break ground. Local children have hung signs on the construction fencing asking city officials to keep the park in its current condition.

The city will be removing grass and multiple mature trees to make way for the two new tennis courts. There are currently 10 courts on the property. Some residents question the need to remove trees and the location of the additional courts.

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• City Halts Park Demolition After Pleasanton Residents Protest Against New Tennis Courts

Residents John and Daisy Ng say the community has made several recommendations to help solve the problem. In addition to suggesting an alternative site for the project, residents are suggesting the addition of lighting at the high school tennis courts to better serve the "peak" evening tennis playing time, through a Joint use Agreement, which would give tennis players many more than just two courts.

The Ng's said residents are very grateful Mayor Jerry Thorne met with them Monday and decided to delay the construction of the two new courts.

"To clarify to other people, we are not opposed to two new tennis courts being added, we are opposed to the proposed location," Daisy Ng told Patch. "The proposed location is the most used flat, grassy area where kids play and run around at this park. It is the area adjacent to the two playgrounds and picnic areas where kids and families entertain, it is the area where parents can watch both their kids on the playground as well as their kids playing ball on the grass.

"This area is where parents teach their kids how to fly a kite and this grassy area is not only used by our neighborhood, but by young community soccer teams, young t-ball teams, boy scouts and girl scouts as well. Local businesses have been seen having their team building functions and parties here as well."

The two new courts were part of the master plan in 1985. In June, the Pleasanton City Council voted to approve the contract and award $494,353 for the project after they held three community workshops and conducted a phone survey. City officials say a 72-hour "Good Neighbor Notice" postcard was sent to all residents within 500 feet of the park.

The August 9 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, located at 200 Old Bernal Ave. The Pleasanton Tennis and Community Park is located at 5801 Valley Ave.

Photo courtesy Autumn Johnson