Bobby Riggs Racket & Paddle Club in Encinitas, CA is under threat of closing after nearby developers, residents, and businesses decided to take matters to the city council to complain about the facility – after the club already reduced its number of pickleball courts from 22 to seven.

This club is owned by the Dawson family. Steve and Jennifer Dawson are PPA senior pro players, and their son Callan Dawson is a signed PPA pro. The family turned a former tennis facility into a beloved and successful community pickleball space. 

So, what’s the issue? Noise complaints of course. It’s always about the noise of pickleball. 

On January 16, Steve Dawson sent out this email update, “It is with a sad heart that I must inform my Bobby Riggs Community that only courts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 will be available for play at Bobby Riggs until I resolve issues with the city... I find it sad that the city is focusing its pressures on our positive pickleball community.” 

However on January 17, Dawson sent another update that shared some of his optimism and strategy for alleviating the issues.

“I definitely have my work cut out for me. Several times in my life, I have had what seemed like a career-ending experience only to come out even better. I can cover courts and make them indoor, I can mandate quiet paddles (I will make one and only allow mine), I have alternative ways to do open play… all roadblocks create avenues for continued success,” said Dawson.  

The city council meeting will take place on Wednesday. But the California pickleball community is preparing to show up with their support. With posts flooding the Pickleball Facebook Page, the players are ready to defend the facility that has brought them so much joy. 

Community members even created a Save Bobby Riggs Grassroots Committee to assist in the cause independent of the facility and provide solutions and support for resuming operations at full capacity.

Hopefully, the Dawsons and fellow pickleball enthusiasts can find a compromise with the city decision makers.

After all, the Dawsons shared their ideas for helping alleviate the sound issue. 

-       Mandate quiet paddles and gear

-       Establish hours 

-       Install sound barriers around the courts

-       Transform the outdoor courts to indoor courts

The technology exists to quiet the noise, so let’s take advantage of that before completely eliminating a thriving community pickleball space.

We don’t want this facility to be another heartbreaking Fairfax County Park situation. 

Updates to come.