I enjoy and support both tennis and pickleball. This petition is not about choosing sides, but about making thoughtful, well-informed decisions that allow both sports to grow without harming existing, successful programs.

This petition is being submitted in response to proposals to convert existing outdoor tennis courts into dedicated pickleball courts. While we recognize and support the growing interest in pickleball, we believe these conversions would negatively impact established tennis programs and are not the best path forward for balanced recreation in Galveston.

In Galveston, pickleball already has regular indoor court access, with play available at McGuire-Dent Recreation Center every day the facility is open, Monday through Saturday, as well as designated pickleball days at Wright Cuney Recreation Center. Tennis, meanwhile, relies heavily on outdoor courts that support established programs and consistent community use.

The tennis community in Galveston includes players of all ages and skill levels and makes regular, active use of existing facilities through programs, group play, and organized events. Tennis provides well-documented health, social, and youth-development benefits, and local after-school and summer tennis programs have been particularly successful in offering young people a constructive and rewarding outlet.

Proposals to permanently convert outdoor tennis courts to exclusive pickleball use risk disrupting these long-standing programs, reducing access for current participants, and limiting future growth of tennis in the community.

To support both sports equitably, we encourage a comprehensive evaluation of current facility usage and demand. A balanced approach—one that maintains existing tennis infrastructure while expanding pickleball opportunities through added capacity or shared-use solutions—will best serve the broader community without reducing access to either sport.

We urge local leaders and the Galveston community to prioritize equitable access, program preservation, and thoughtful growth. With careful planning, tennis and pickleball can continue to thrive side by side.

Sign this petition to support balanced recreation and to preserve existing tennis programming and facilities in Galveston for current and future generations.