This article epitomizes the reason a lot of people do not like pickleball. For Tom Bottorf to speak at a Peoria City Council meeting saying "baseball fields are an overkill and a waste of valuable acreage and would be better used as pickleball courts (at Paloma Park)," is a perfect example of the entitled attitude displayed by a lot of pickleball afficionados/players.
Pickleball players have repeatedly taken over tennis courts as their own, running rough shod over fellow neighbors to get their way.
I have lived in three different 55+ communities that have lost tennis courts to pickleball. I have played on municipal tennis courts that have pickleball "striping" on them.
If you want more pickleball courts, find land for them that is not being used and enjoyed by tennis players, baseball players, etc.
You are not endearing yourself to city councils and fellow residents by suggesting that pickleball courts should take precedence over all other sports facilities.
I am a tennis player and have friends who play pickleball. My friends are very well aware of the schism being caused by over zealous pickleball players trying to take over tennis court facilities.
That is my input. Please think about what I have said.
