In October of 2024, residents of Morgan Road were surprised to receive a letter from one of our Tucker District 3 representatives informing us of an upcoming vote to award a construction contract for a 12-court pickleball complex at the Tucker Recreation Center.

For our neighborhood, this was the first we had heard of a major facility being proposed less than 100 feet from two homes, under 200 feet from 11, and within 350 feet of seven others. Meanwhile, a very vocal group of pickleball proponents – Tucker residents and nonresidents alike – along with the mayor, city council (excluding one member), and the parks and recreation director had been aware of the project since 2022.

Councilmember Alexis Weaver’s letter left many on Morgan Road and nearby residents on Chamblee-Tucker and LaVista Roads asking, “What even is pickleball?” For others more familiar with the sport, especially its uniquely intrusive popping sounds, alarm bells rang immediately.

We responded by organizing. We educated ourselves about the sport – its rapid rise in popularity and its real health and community benefits. But we also uncovered significant, well-documented concerns about noise when pickleball courts are built too close to homes.

To better understand the potential impact, we hired nationally recognized pickleball acoustics expert Charles Leahy to assess the project’s implications. His findings, submitted to the mayor and council, confirmed what many other communities have already discovered: even with mitigation measures, pickleball noise cannot be effectively managed when courts are less than 350 feet from homes.

For homes within 200 feet – like many on Morgan Road – there is no viable outdoor mitigation. Tucker is proposing 12 outdoor courts. That’s 12 sources of constant noise for 20 households – families whose daily lives stand to be permanently disrupted if this project moves forward.

We have appealed to our elected officials – through email, public comments, and community meetings – always seeking fact-based arguments, despite the anxiety and frustration this project has brought to our lives.

Unfortunately, some members of the pickleball community have responded not with dialogue, but with personal attacks: calling us liars, dismissing our mental health, and belittling our homes. Yet, from many others, including pickleball players themselves, we have received support and compassion.

One especially meaningful example came in a letter sent to the mayor and council from Heisman trophy winner and avid pickleball player Danny Wuerffel. In April 2025, he urged city leaders to “go the extra mile in listening to local residents, pay special attention to their reports on the potential devastating effects of the noise, and after careful consideration of all the information, make the best decision possible for the city of Tucker.”

Despite our efforts, on June 9, 2025, the city council voted to move the project forward to the request for proposal (RFP) stage – bids which would most likely be much higher than the original $3.38 million dollar price tag. We are grateful to Council members Weaver, Trocchi, and Rece for voting “no” and asking the city to pause and conduct more due diligence. We also remain encouraged by the growing number of Tucker residents – those with no direct stake in the location – who recognize the flaws in this plan and have stepped forward in solidarity.

So, why do we persist? Why do we continue to dedicate our time and money to opposing this project? The answer is simple: we care deeply about our quality of life, our property values, and the wellbeing of our neighbors.

Consider this: a 96-year-old resident of our neighborhood has lived in her home since 1959. She lives with her daughter and granddaughter, and their home is less than 100 feet from the proposed courts – fully exposed with no berm or substantial vegetation. At that distance, noise barriers are known to be ineffective. for this multigenerational family, living with the constant staccato popping of pickleball for up to 13 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year would be unbearable.

This is why we stand united in opposition to this project. If the City of Tucker chooses to move forward, it will do so fully aware of the human cost – and in full possession of the facts.

Respectfully,
Rebecca Gross (Morgan Road resident)
Nancy Kalvedge (Morgan Road resident)
Lisa Kalvedge (Morgan Road resident)
Kelley Kalvedge (Morgan Road resident)
Melanie Selent (Morgan Road resident)
Greg Morse (Morgan Road homeowner)
Ed Pucko III (Tucker resident)
Debbie Wallace (Chamblee-Tucker Road resident)
Sheila Daniel (Morgan Road resident)
Debbie Reeves (Morgan Road resident)
Trish England (Tucker resident)
Steve Humfleet (Tucker resident)
Tina O’Kelley (Morgan Road resident)
John O’Kelley (Morgan Road resident)
Meg Thomas (Tucker resident)
Andrew Gladu (Morgan Road resident)
Dr. Seng Lou (Morgan Road resident)
Kevin Anderle (Morgan Road resident)
Debbie Reeves (Morgan Road resident)
Katie Troutman (Morgan Road resident)
Maurice Garland (Tucker resident/everyday Morgan Road user)
Heather Hale (Morgan Road resident)
Anna Yousef (Morgan Road resident)
Dr. Megan Neyer (Northlake Creek resident)
Elizabeth McDowell (Morgan Road resident)
Patty Jervey (Morgan Road resident)