Residents of a Birmingham community are fighting to keep one of their favorite weekend activities alive. Playing tennis at Birmingham’s Crestwood Park is a weekly activity for Kim Nguyen and Cedric Burl. “For me, I’m a business owner,” says Nguyen. “I’m in graduate school. I have a full-time job. So I don’t really have a lot of time to exercise. So it’s a very convenient and well-used resource for us.” But there’s a proposition in a game that threatens the very tennis courts that Crestwood-area residents play on every weekend. The city’s Parks and Recreation Board is looking to replace one of the two remaining tennis courts at Crestwood Park with additional pickleball courts. “A lot of kids still love tennis,” Burl says. “They still want to play tennis. A lot of them use that to go to college. So that means a lot to me.” Those fighting to keep the tennis courts at Crestwood Park say there’s an even mix at the moment. There are currently two tennis courts and four pickleball courts in the park. “It’s not fair to cater to a specific demographic and move an existing community that really appreciates and cherishes these facilities here,” adds Nguyen. Birmingham City Councilor Darrell O’Quinn is aware of these concerns. He says the future of the courts ultimately depends on the parks and recreation board. “It was suggested that existing tennis facilities in nearby parks – particularly East Lake Park – could be upgraded to meet the increased demand for tennis facilities,” O’Quinn said. “Historically, the tennis courts at Crestwood Park have been underutilized.” Some people in Crestwood say East Lake is too far to drive. “It’s not a suitable option because you have stay-at-home moms who don’t want to drive another 5 or 10 miles,” Burl says. “They want to come to Crestwood Park.” Nguyen created an online survey. So far, 255 people have responded. 95% say they want the two tennis courts to remain in place. WVTM 13 News has contacted the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board about the future of the tennis courts. A spokesperson says the pickleball project is moving forward.
Residents of a Birmingham community are fighting to keep one of their favorite weekend activities alive.
Playing tennis at Birmingham’s Crestwood Park is a weekly activity for Kim Nguyen and Cedric Burl.
“For me, I’m a business owner,” says Nguyen. “I’m in graduate school. I have a full-time job. So I don’t really have a lot of time to exercise. So it’s a very convenient and well-used resource for us.”
But there’s a proposal at play that threatens the tennis courts that Crestwood-area residents play on every weekend. The city’s Parks and Recreation Board is looking to replace one of the two remaining tennis courts at Crestwood Park with additional pickleball courts.
“A lot of kids still love tennis,” Burl says. “They still want to play tennis. A lot of them use that to go to college. So that means a lot to me.”
Those fighting to keep the tennis courts at Crestwood Park say there’s an even mix at the moment. There are currently two tennis courts and four pickleball courts in the park.
“It’s not fair to cater to a specific demographic and move an existing community that really appreciates and cherishes these facilities here,” adds Nguyen.
Birmingham City Councilor Darrell O’Quinn is aware of these concerns. He says the future of the courts ultimately depends on the parks and recreation board.
“It was suggested that existing tennis facilities in nearby parks – particularly East Lake Park – could be upgraded to meet the increased demand for tennis facilities,” O’Quinn said. “Historically, the tennis courts at Crestwood Park have been underutilized.”
Some people in Crestwood say East Lake is too far to drive.
“It’s not a suitable option because you have stay-at-home moms who don’t want to drive another 5 or 10 miles,” Burl says. “They want to come to Crestwood Park.”
Nguyen created an online survey. So far, 255 people have responded. 95% say they want the two tennis courts to remain in place.
WVTM 13 News has contacted the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board about the future of the tennis courts. A spokesperson says the pickleball project is moving forward.
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