"We as a city are willing to invest in more courts," Mayor Susannah Meyer said at the October 19 special council meeting, as Contra Costa News reported. That night the council set aside money for those courts. It did not start building them, and the city's own schedule doesn't begin until it does.
That gap matters to anyone who used to show up at Creekside Park with a paddle. The courts on Elkins Way are called temporary. Going by the city's own estimate, they will probably be Brentwood's main public pickleball courts until sometime in 2028.
Creekside was the city's only dedicated public courts
According to the September 21 staff report, Creekside Park opened in August 2024 with four regulation courts built on what used to be a full basketball court. It had lights and supporting amenities, and it was Brentwood's only public facility built just for pickleball. A community press release covered by Contra Costa News put the Brentwood Creekside Pickleball Club at 160 members, and said members taught newcomers right there on the courts.
The courts came down in steps:
- March 25, 2025: After neighbors complained about noise and evening activity, the council cut hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Staff began locking and unlocking the courts every day.
- August 12, 2025: The council kept those hours and told staff to look for court sites outside residential neighborhoods.
- September 21, 2026: The council voted to close Creekside once temporary courts were ready. A later city notice set the change for October 26.
- October 19, 2026: A written demand argued that the September agenda hadn't clearly said closure was on the table, so the council took the item up again at a special meeting and confirmed it.
- November 2 and 3, 2026: Creekside closed on Monday, November 2. The city scheduled the Sunset Sports Complex courts to open the next morning at 7:00 a.m.
Council members spoke openly about how hard the vote was. "This is not easy for us," Vice Mayor Pa'Tanisha Pierson said, according to Contra Costa News. Councilmember Tony Oerlemans said the city had to weigh "both, the neighborhood and the pickleball players."
What the Elkins Way courts include
The city's October 8 notice describes six temporary courts in the Elkins Way parking lot at Sunset Park. The setup includes:
- Court striping
- Nets
- Perimeter fencing that separates the courts from the parking area
- Divider fencing that marks off each court
That is two more courts than Creekside had. The surface is different, though. The courts sit on existing parking-lot asphalt. Creekside had a dedicated playing surface. Speakers at the October 19 meeting worried about uneven pavement, heat in summer, and the lack of shade, drinking water, restrooms and spectator space. Mayor Meyer said staff was working to make the temporary courts as playable and comfortable as possible.
For daily hours and court rules at the new site, check the Brentwood Parks & Recreation page before you go.
Money set aside, but no construction clock running
The permanent plan is close by. The staff report picks 2251 Elkins Way, an empty city-owned lot just north of the Sunset Park Athletic Complex and east of the wastewater treatment plant, for six commercial-grade courts. The plan includes the things speakers said the parking lot is missing: a concrete base with sport surfacing, water, court and pathway lighting, a restroom, and ADA access from Elkins Way.
Staff priced two versions:
| Version | What it adds | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|
| Basic courts | Six courts, fencing, nets, water, lighting, restroom, parking changes | $1,020,081 |
| Enhanced courts | Everything in Basic, plus more shade, picnic tables, benches, landscaping | $1,726,871 |
On October 19, the council's resolution reserved $1,726,871 in the General Fund for Future Capital Projects as of June 30, 2026. That is the enhanced number. The money comes from personnel budget savings in FY 2025/26.
The staff report's next sentence explains the timing. "If City Council was to authorize funding for new courts it is estimated that design, bidding and construction would be between 18 and 24 months." The report also calls the design a preliminary concept, and says staff would come back with refined estimates and budget amendments.
Setting money aside is one step. Authorizing the project is the next one, and the 18 months only start counting from there. If the council authorized the project this month, the staff estimate would put finished courts between May and November 2028. Every month that passes before that vote moves the opening back by a month. Until then, the city's plan for public pickleball is the six temporary courts on the parking-lot asphalt at Sunset Park.
How Brentwood compares nearby
The same staff report compares cities around the county, which helps if you're deciding whether to drive somewhere else:
- Discovery Bay Community Center: 12 dedicated courts
- Concord's Willow Pass Community Park: 14 dedicated courts
- Walnut Creek's Rudgear Park: 8 dedicated outdoor courts
- Oakley and Antioch: mostly shared-use or multi-purpose courts, such as striped tennis courts, or indoor recreation programs
Brentwood's six temporary courts are more than it had before, and more than its closest neighbors to the north offer. For dedicated courts with a real playing surface, the nearest option on this list is a short drive east.
Where else to play while the lot is the main option
Pioneer Park, Brentwood. The city keeps portable pickleball equipment so the Pioneer Park basketball court can be set up for casual play. It's a shared court, so you may be splitting time with basketball players.
Discovery Bay Community Center, 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd. The Discovery Bay Pickleball Club lists 12 individually fenced courts at this address. The club posts sponsored open play times:
| Day | Sponsored open play |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8 a.m. to noon |
| Wednesday | 3 to 5 p.m. |
| Thursday | 8 a.m. to noon |
| Saturday | 8 a.m. to noon |
The club calls the other days general open play. Its events page lists free beginner lessons on the first Saturday of every month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with paddles and balls available if you need them. If your Creekside group has been meaning to bring a friend along, the next first Saturday is December 5.
The Town of Discovery Bay's park rules treat park use as generally first-come, first-served and give reservations priority. Before driving over, call the Discovery Bay Community Center at 925-392-4575 to confirm hours and any non-resident rules.
What happens to the Creekside courts
The courts at Creekside Park are still there. As part of the October 19 action, the city will send notices to residents living within 1,000 feet of Creekside Park. The notices ask for input on a feasibility study about what the courts become next, and they cover noise and residential parking. The staff report says that if the site gets a new use, it could help offset what the new facility will cost to run.
Players who want a say in the permanent courts on Elkins Way, especially in the shade and amenities that separate the $1.02 million version from the $1.73 million one, can follow future council agendas. The staff report says the project goes back to the council for budget amendments, so that's the next time it will be discussed in public.
I'm keeping an eye on the Elkins Way project as it comes back to the council, and I'm happy to pass along what I hear about the courts at Sunset Park. If you have a question about this or anything else going on in Brentwood, Deborah Maisterrena is one message away. Let's Connect.
