Pickleball Has It’s Controversies
In the city of Aventura, Miami, a community is in turmoil over the decision to replace a cherished community garden with a pickleball court. The Aventura Community Green Garden, a tranquil oasis for many residents, was bulldozed earlier this year to make way for the new sports facility, sparking a wave of protests and legal actions.
Alice Bonvicini, a local resident who leased a garden bed from February 2021 to May 2023, was one of the many who found solace in the garden. She cultivated a variety of plants, including chicory, a vegetable she missed from her native Rome. The garden's destruction has left her and many others questioning the city's decision.
The controversy isn't about pickleball itself, a sport that has gained national popularity since its creation in 1965. The issue lies in the city's choice of location for the courts. Residents argue that the decision has environmental, legal, and noise implications for Founders Park and the surrounding residential areas.
The city's plan, announced in June, involves the construction of three new tennis courts and five new pickleball courts. The community garden will be relocated to a plot overlooking the intracoastal waterway and expanded from 48 to 52 planters. The city also plans to install overhead lighting for nighttime play and promises to increase the tree canopy for additional shade.
However, residents argue that the plan neglects to mention the removal of nearly three dozen mature trees and the noise pollution from the sport. Ariel Penzer, a resident of the adjacent apartment complex, compares the sound of pickleball to living in a gun range.
In response to the city's plan, residents have taken various actions, including filing litigation, writing open letters, staging protests, signing online petitions, and speaking out in city hall meetings. They have also launched an online campaign against the project.
The Aventura Marina Owners Association has filed a complaint and a motion for injunction with the Miami-Dade Circuit Court, alleging that the construction violates a 1998 covenant that requires the city to seek permission from surrounding properties before altering the use of the land.
Despite the ongoing controversy, city officials maintain that the decision was made in the best interest of the entire community. Mayor Howard Weinberg insists that the plan was approved before his election in 2022 and that the process was transparent.
The residents, however, remain determined to fight for their park. A third protest is scheduled for September 5, and they expect hundreds of community members to attend as their cause gains traction online. They hope that their efforts will lead to a change in the city's plan and the restoration of their beloved community garden.
