Park Authority removes pickleball from Annandale park
Contractors hired by Fairfax County removed the pickleball markings from the courts in Kendale Woods Park June 25, as a security guard stood watch and a reporter from WUSA9 interviewed pickleball players.
Neighbors who’ve enjoyed playing pickleball at the small park in Annandale have been fighting efforts by the FCPA to revert the courts to tennis only.
The Park Authority had a lock installed on the gates to the courts during the night of June 15 and hired a security guard to sit inside the locked courts for the past few days during an extreme heat wave.
During the closure, a “no trespassing” sign on the fence said violators can face a $2,500 fine and up to 12 months in jail.
Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole said pickleball was removed from the courts because the residents of one nearby home complained about the noise. That couple refused to meet with the pickleball players or FCPA officials and refused to discuss any compromises, such as limiting the hours of play or installing barriers on the fence to reduce the noise.
Related story: Park Authority shuts down pickleball despite an injunction filed by residents
When asked why Cole felt it necessary to install a security guard at the courts, FCPA spokesperson Ben Boxer said it was because of the “verbally abusive language exhibited by community members when staff arrived on Friday, June 14, to originally begin the work to reline the courts.”
A few pickleball players held a sit-in that day, but their conversation with the workers was respectful and they left without incident.
The pickleball players had filed an injunction to stop the work until the noise levels could be accurately measured and sound mitigation efforts could be discussed.
A process server delivered the petition for an injunction to Cole’s office on June 17, yet the work to paint over the pickleball lines proceeded after a brief delay.
“Last week, we received a request by members of the community to meet before a judge and discuss this matter,” Boxer said. “In light of that request, we locked the courts and paused the relining work until that discussion could occur. On Friday, June 21, the Park Authority had representation at the appointed time; however, no members of the community were present.”
That’s because the pickleball players weren’t informed that a hearing had been scheduled.
The injunction filed by the pickleball players charges that the Park Authority failed to follow its own established procedures. By unilaterally shutting down pickleball, the FCPA failed to notify park users and neighbors or include their voices in the planning process.
The Kendale Woods Park was established on land donated to the Park Authority in February 1983 by the Broyhill Crest Recreation Club for a community park to serve local residents.
In the WUSA9 story, which aired on June 25, Broyhill Crest resident Debo Burk told reporter Matthew Torres that pickleball “means a lot to us. It’s not just a game.” The sport brings neighbors together for social interactions close to home.
“We worked so hard to get here, and now it’s all gone,” said Bill O’Neill, whose late wife Donna was the driving force in adding pickleball to the tennis courts during the pandemic when everyone was stuck indoors.
In the story, Cole repeats what she’s said before about shutting down pickleball: “It’s unethical of me to force even one resident to endure the sounds that we ourselves have identified as being a nuisance.” Residents wonder whether that means anyone who complains about any park facility could have it shut down.
Related story: Park Authority will remove popular pickleball courts at Kendale Woods Park
According to Daidria Grayson, communications division director at the Park Authority, the decision to shut down pickleball “is true to the FCPA’s mission to enrich the quality of life for all members of Fairfax County.”
The rest of that mission, as stated on the FCPS’s website, is to maintain a park system that “provides a healthy environment, preserves natural and cultural heritage, offers inspiring recreational experiences, and promotes healthy lifestyles.”
Now the County has to provide security for its contract workers because of neighborhood extremists.
Sad.
Pickleball extremists
What’s next, the basketball courts? Hey Jai Cole, I live next to basketball courts. Bouncing basketballs, are very loud. Will you please send your crew to remove the lines, hoops, teens, and children? Also, I’d like a security guard to ensure nobody is able to play.
WW, did you see the extremist? If anyone was an extremist in this situation, it was FCPA and Jai Cole. The group of women you are referring to as extremists are all upstanding citizens of Annandale. They are almost all retirees who have contributed to and lived peacefully in our community for decades. Calling in security to stop a retired librarian from civil disobedience is extreme. You are just confused about who the extremists are in this situation. It was not the residents of this community.
Sounds kind of insurrection-y to me.
No one was threatening the workers. The previous day was a peaceful sit in. HUGE difference.
Or, unnecessary.
The responses clearly show that pickleball zealots refuse to comprehend the damages caused by pickleball noise. Considering the backlash, it’s no wonder only one person was willing to file a formal complaint— one has to believe others would complain IF not for the vilification that clearly follows!
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂oh my ears. Yes you should see the pickleball zealots here in Annandale. Most of the people supporting the cause don’t even play pickleball but they support the community and apparently aren’t part of the abnormal population who finds pickleball noise bothersome.
There is a simple croud sourced solution to the problem. Once FCPA finishes painting the courts, get a can of paint, a roller and add the pickleball lines back. Do it under the cover of night so you don’t get caught. A little civil non-violent protest never hurt anyone.
Amen, brother. It’s been said from the start that painting the court is a non-solution to this “problem.” The community offered many workable solutions, but Jai Cole dug in, and now we have some wonky tennis lines. The lines aren’t even straight, but that could be because painting in extreme heat isn’t recommended.
Chalk is more likely to be viewed benignly by a judge, I would think. Just sayin’.
My neighbor and I can’t even get parking enforced on our street ( need parking pass to park over night) after calls and e-mails to Andre Jimenez office. I am glad the county has its priority to paint over a pickleball court, because playing tennis has no noise!!
Jai Cole should resign in shame. What a disgrace she is.
Absolutely! Get rid of her. You need to be able to put your ego aside and do what’s best for the community. She has shown she’s incapable of doing so. What a disgrace. The pickleball noise relief group would love to have her—she is their hero with her self-proclaimed one-person stance on pickleball noise being unethical. What a joke!
Jai Cole’s vacation is about to be over, this situation isn’t. Simple question why do FCPA guidelines not apply to these courts? This is a reasonable question that nobody from Cole to Jimenez to McKay can answer. We don’t expect Jimenez to do anything he was taken out of the equation early on- even though he should have been more involved. At least McKay took a stance on this situation even if he didn’t step when needed. But stay tuned this isn’t over.
Jai Cole has been appointed Chief Noise Officer at Pickleball Noise Relief! Known for her crusade against the “menace” of pickleball noise, Cole now leads the charge in silencing the wants and needs of our neighborhoods throughout Fairfax County.
“Finally, I can make a difference on a larger scale,” says Cole. Critics call it absurd, but Cole remains undeterred. Love her or hate her, you can’t deny her commitment towards silencing communities. “I know what is best for communities not the people who live there. I’m the ONE that makes a difference.” Raise a silent cheer for Jai Cole – the hero we don’t need. #PickleballNoiseRelief #QuietChampion #CommunityAntihero
Build a pickle ball court in your yard. The Karen crowd and their pickleball crusade sues the county while the county can’t even enforce loitering laws or protect a lake from becoming a swamp.
Yes, FCPA is a mess and has mixed-up priorities. I don’t know if that’s always been the case or if things have taken a nosedive with the current ‘leadership.’ I hate to use that term because it’s a lack of leadership that has created many issues and let others fester. But a pickleball court in the backyard—now you are talking…
This is what happens with the equity agenda.
Sad but SOMETIMES true. We live in a diverse community full of wonderful, intelligent people. When you hire someone who’s unqualified for the job solely for the sake of diversity, and then they do a bad job, it undermines the entire mission. As a POC, I know it’s not always an easy road, but when someone like Jai Cole comes in and does something like this, it’s bad for everyone, especially for POC. She should be removed before she damages the collective reputation even further. There are truly qualified POC who could fill her position and do so with integrity.
This is too much. In what possible way is Jai Cole “unqualified for the job” and hired “solely for the sake of diversity?” I get that you and many others are unhappy with this decision – but it is a policy decision. To my understanding, she is highly qualified professionally as demonstrated by her past experience. That doesn’t mean you have to like (or dislike) her actions, but impugning her doesn’t help your discussion at all; it undermines any points you might make. I don’t have a position on this situation because I don’t live in the neighborhood and I have no direct experience with the tennis/pickleball courts, but I can tell when someone is losing an argument because they start to insult the individuals involved in a choice they don’t like.
Race has nothing to do with this situation. The issue is that Jai Cole didn’t follow FCPA policy and guidelines. She ignored the community and went rogue on this for no apparent reason. She’s not qualified for the position and I think this situation is bringing that to light. Those who work with her have stated she’s an egomaniac who doesn’t listen. At the board meeting showcasing FCPA’s work around the county it was literally the Jai Cole show. On what terms are you basing the fact she’s qualified? Solely because she’s in the position? We don’t like her actions because they are unethical, petty, sneaky, and defy logic. We have policy and procedures in place so situations like this don’t take place but Ms. Cole thinks she’s above following protocol and procedures.
Love that our tax dollars are going to all this because a *single person* complained. Meanwhile the parks department is arguing I need to hire an engineer *at my own expense* to fix a drainage issue because my property is near park land.
Jai Cole should be fired and Jimenez should resign over this. It’s an abomination.
Say it louder for the people in back! Fire Cole and Jimenez resign you’re in over head.
This is definitive proof that Annandale is full of crazies – on each side of this embarrassing story – sad!
How on Earth can FCPA say “the decision to shut down pickleball “is true to the FCPA’s mission to enrich the quality of life for all members of Fairfax County.” What about the over 500 people who supported keeping the courts- they don’t matter but the 1 compliant in 6 years does?
It’s disheartening to see the pickleball courts at Kendale Woods Park removed due to complaints from just one household. This decision by the FCPA disregards the voices of many residents who find joy and community in the sport. The security guard and “no trespassing” signs only add to the frustration. Let’s hope future decisions will consider the broader community’s needs and find balanced solutions. If the current FCPA leadership cannot make decisions that support the community they should be removed from their positions. This is a sad situation.
Unbelievable that the Park Authority would go to such lengths for one noise complaint! Locking the gates, hiring security, and painting over the lines without proper community consultation seems extreme. Pickleball has brought so many people together, and it’s a shame to see it shut down like this. The FCPA needs to rethink its approach and work with the community for a better solution. I’m with those saying Jai Cole needs to be fired- she can enjoy a permanent vacation.
So, someone complaining should not matter if they live closer to the courts than those that do not???
Welcome to the story! those with homes backing the courts want these courts. There was a single complaint in 6 years this is not a hot spot like the noisy out of town pickleball hate group would like local officials to think.
Part of the issue with this situation is that the residents thought a reasonable solution would be considered. But they were wrong. Once the decision to change these courts to tennis only was singlehandedly made by Jai Cole, there was no turning back. She rushed ahead to get these courts done before anything beyond a grassroots effort to save the courts could be made. However, now that the community realizes that Jai Cole isn’t reasonable, they can regroup, get legal counsel, and play hardball. I don’t think anyone wanted that. These are neighborhood courts that have been enjoyed mostly by pickleball players for many years. Those wanting to turn this into a pickleball vs. tennis debate are as misguided as Ms. Cole’s one person stance.
This is a very embarrassing and wasteful example of leadership from the Parks Department. Leslie Knope would never. Shutting down a park because people were using it seems pretty silly. If that one neighbor doesn’t like the sound of sports, then why did they buy a house near a park? I would be surprised if these people and Jai Cole know each other personally.
Yes the FCPA should have required the one complainer to negotiate a reasonable compromise. Pickleball only during certain hours etc. To ignore 500 constituents for 1 is very unreasonable
My name is Karen is I hate pickleball and all the noise and people that come with it. My husband Terry also finds the noise offensive. Good for Jai Cole I’m very proud of him for standing up for what’s right. Karen’s deserve to be heard as much as anyone else. Terry also is grateful to you Mr. Cole! Wonderful job and congratulations on your new position with pickleball noise relief I hope it comes with a sizable raise you deserve it!
If the opposition to Jimenez‘s reelection is led by the pickleball extremists, he is going to win going away.
This site, and the pickleball extremists who have mobbed this site, have made it clear they do not care or take seriously the concerns of their neighbors who have been negatively impacted by the pickleball courts.
Jimenez has exercised very good judgment in not getting his office to involved in this dispute.
Pickleball extremists 😂😂😂😂. Let’s assume you don’t live in the neighborhood. Also if you’ve been following the story you would know these pickleball villains have sought to work with the ONE neighbor from the start. Jimenez isn’t going to win again but you’re right pickleball isn’t going to be the deciding factor its his ability to stand up for his constituents
I think it’s time for lawfare against the parks dept. Any lawyers out there want to sue the county? How about white gardens. I’d like a full accounting there. Or a bunch of FOIA requests.
There was a FOIA request which turned up zero complaints. None of this makes any sense.
This situation has made no sense from the start. A lot of people are just waiting and watching to see what is going on. There was so much shady business—does FCPA have something against this neighborhood? Who made them mad? Fess up!
This has been a very frustrating process and Jai Cole needs to be fired and the FCPA needs to be reviewed very carefully. The County Supervisor needs to override this decision and put the Community’s needs first.
I find the sound of grass mowing offensive. I insist that FCPA remove the grass from the park behind my home so that it will no longer need to be cut,
grass mowing is not all day all hours of the day… So, you know that is not a valid statement.
Neither is pickleball at this location so go back to your hate group. Annandale doesn’t support hate groups. Pickleball noise relief, 😂🤣 good god how miserable can you be? Lawn care is a much more frequent sound than pickleball noise from these courts. Maybe removing the tennis racket from your ass will help improve your quality of life.
This is too much. In what possible way is Jai Cole “unqualified for the job” and hired “solely for the sake of diversity?” I get that you and many others are unhappy with this decision – but it is a policy decision. To my understanding, she is highly qualified professionally as demonstrated by her past experience. That doesn’t mean you have to like (or dislike) her actions, but impugning her doesn’t help your discussion at all; it undermines any points you might make. I don’t have a position on this situation because I don’t live in the neighborhood and I have no direct experience with the tennis/pickleball courts, but I can tell when someone is losing an argument because they start to insult the individuals involved in a choice they don’t like.
If you’ve been following the story you would know Jai Cole didn’t follow established procedures and policy in this situation. THAT’S why there is such an uproar. You’re right the community disagrees with her actions because they were harmful to the community, sneaky, and established protocols were thrown out the window. Have you seen Cole’s resume? Why do you assume she’s qualified? I know people who work with her and they have said she’s a nightmare and they’re actually glad this happened because it is putting her in the spotlight. This is coming from her colleagues not disgruntled community members.
this is a very sad situation, completely overblown by the County; it is probably the fastest they have put an action into place in a long time, and to spend resources on a guard, just ridiculous!
This problem is on the pickleball community. They know that their sport is a noise nuisance, yet they expect everyone around them to suck it up. How self-centered. How can anyone live next to a pickleball court? This can be fixed. Change the ball and racquet so that it’s quiet and this problem goes away!!!
Hi Marco. I would love for you to meet with me at the court and do a sound study with me. I have one scheduled for July 9 at 10:15 am. If you have documents from the cdc showing the noise nuisance issues of pickleball. Please being them along
The people who live in this community have said pickleball noise is the sound of a healthy, happy, active, and vibrant community. That’s from folks who don’t play.
I live next to these courts and love it! The sound of the community playing and being healthy and active is welcome. I sit on my porch listening to the pickleballers and am filled with gratitude to live in such a vibrant community where there’s something for everyone. My neighbor who is a bit older said that she feels safe when she hears the pop pop of pickleball. Being bothered by the noise is the exception not the rule.
It was great seeing the courts used by pickleball players today! Looks like things are righting themselves again. I don’t play pickleball but missed seeing my friends play.
I guess I missed the invention of the century. Noiseless tennis balls. To my recollection a tennis ball when whacked makes a loud noise. I went on Amazon to order the noiseless tennis balls and got “there is no such item”.
Ridiculous situation. I hope people are held accountable and the community gets their courts back. What a waste of resources.
Debo Burk doesn’t seem to be resident of Virginia. Are they from Potomac, MD?
https://www.whitepages.com/name/Debo-Burk
Debo Burk lives three blocks from the pickleball courts at Kendale Woods Park.
IF YOU lived in Broyhill Crest, you would know of Mrs. Burke’s 30+ years of service to this community and as a former FCPS teacher.
Stay in your own lane, loser.
Does Debo know she doesn’t live in Annandale? She’s been here for years and years and seems to think this is her home. Is this Ms. California making this very odd accusation?
I really hate the noise from the beltway. Can the county do something about that. I know when I moved here that it was there but…..
And all those helicopters and ambulances going to the hospital on Gallows…..
At the May 22, 2024 board meeting, Jai Cole was introduced as giving a “pickleball haters” presentation. While FCPA has since taken the video down from their website, you can still hear the clip here https://www.youtube.com/clip/Ugkx2S-OsqMX66ynRhrZU-ETmDBg6bILMI3O or listen to it at 1 hour and 39 minutes here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS4Id6L2kro&t=5962s.
If you listen to Cole’s 5-minute spiel, she doesn’t even address policy or procedures for established courts and she has her dates wrong. This is why JAI COLE NEEDS TO GO!