Petition to Preserve Tennis Courts

At Al Kruse Tennis and Pickleball Center

To:
Corpus Christi City Council
Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Department

Subject: Opposition to the Conversion of Existing Tennis Courts (Midsection two full tennis courts and one singles tennis court) to Pickleball Courts at Al Kruse Tennis Center (A.K.T.C.). Keep existing A.K.T.C. layout which includes six tennis courts, one singles tennis court and ten designated pickleball courts.  

Petition Statement:

We, the undersigned residents and community members of Corpus Christi, Texas, respectfully request that the City of Corpus Christi halt the proposal to convert existing public tennis courts into pickleball courts.

A compromise had already been made in 2022, when three tennis courts at A.K.T.C. were converted into ten pickleball courts. While we recognize that pickleball is a growing and popular sport in Corpus Christi, we believe that converting existing tennis courts reduces access for tennis players, junior programs, tennis leagues, school teams, and long‑time community members who rely on these facilities. We need six tennis courts at A.K.T.C. to play in tennis leagues. League play grew by eleven percent last year in Corpus Christi.  Also, access to pickleball courts has increased in the Corpus Christi area in the last two years. Public parks should serve all residents and all sports fairly without favoring one group at the expense of another.

We ask the City of Corpus Christi to consider solutions that:

-Preserve the existing six tennis courts to play league tennis at A.K.T.C. for their intended use.
-Conduct and explore new managed pickleball site locations in the Corpus Christi area.
-Consider adding six pickleball courts at H.E.B. tennis center. 
-Request that no decisions are made until accurate data is provided.
-Provide ample time for community to review the data and provide transparency.  

We respectfully request that the City of Corpus Christi halt further tennis to pickleball conversions. Information regarding tennis to pickleball court conversions was not shared by Parks and Recreation until April 07, 2026. Please allow ample time to engage tennis and pickleball players, residents, and neighborhood stakeholders in meaningful dialogue and review of accurate data in search of solutions that support both tennis and pickleball players.