LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Mayor Craig Greenberg pulled his support for a $65 million sports complex at Joe Creason Park on Friday, saying "it is clear" the community doesn't back it.

The move came as opposition mounted from neighbors and park users across Louisville who argued that the public park wasn't the right place for a tennis and pickleball center and questioned the city's behind-the-scenes negotiations.

Some Jefferson County Public Schools students are graduating with full-time jobs already lined up.

"I loudly and clearly heard from neighbors around Joe Creason Park that this proposed project should not be built here," Greenberg said during a news conference at the park. "This shows the process works. The community's voice matters."

Dozens of people gathered to hear Greenberg's remarks, cheering when he announced the venture "will not be moving forward." 

Rebecca Minnick, executive director of the nearby Louisville Nature Center, said the decision shows that "people in Louisville love our parks and we love our green spaces."

"I'm glad that they listened and that people showed up to support it, and it's not often that nature wins," she said. "So I'm really happy."

Speaking to a crowd that included project critics and members of the Kentucky Tennis and Pickleball Center Inc. development team, Greenberg said he plans to support a similar effort elsewhere in the city. 

Wil Davis, CEO of the development company, told reporters that the mayor's decision was "unfortunate," but that his group still wants to pursue a project in Louisville. However, he said there have been no discussions about a new location.

"We're excited to work with the mayor, and we think he's genuine on wanting to do something new," Davis said. He called Friday's announcement "a bump in the road."

The developers said they had been working with the Greenberg administration on the Creason Park site since early 2023, or shortly after the mayor took office. 

Friday's announcement occurred the day before a second developer-led open house was planned. Hundreds of people packed a community center on Tuesday for the first event, with many showing their opposition.

Greenberg said the concerns raised at this week's meeting and other feedback drove his decision. In his remarks at Creason Park, the mayor insisted several times that he had "learned a lot" in the process and pledged to approach similar projects differently in the future. 

Besides concerns over the proposed location, opponents keyed on the Greenberg administration's negotiations with the developers that resulted in a letter of intent signed in March before the public was told about the project in April.

That agreement could have paved the way for a possible $20 million city-backed bond issue and a long-term lease of 25 park acres. 

"The community engagement piece should have happened a lot sooner in this process," said Metro Council member Josie Raymond, D-10. "I think we've learned that, and that when community members had had the chance they made themselves heard." 

While Greenberg was taking questions from reporters, a Creason Park neighbor named Stephan Zimmerman spoke out to say he called and emailed the mayor's office numerous time since he found out about the plans for the park more than a year ago.

"Nobody's ever replied to me," Zimmerman said. "So one of the things I'd like to ask for you is: How can I trust you going forward when you say you've learned from this if you don't even respond to people about this specific issue?" 

Greenberg then apologized and said he "will work with my team to ensure that that improves."

Announced last month, the tennis and pickleball project was touted as a world-class facility that would attract tournaments and increase local access to racket sports.

Plans envisioned 36 tennis courts, 18 pickleball courts, a restaurant and other facilities such as a health club and sports medicine clinic.

A section of outdoor courts was proposed for an existing parking lot on the site. A cemetery, historic pool house and playground wouldn't have been affected. 

Backers commissioned an economic impact study that estimated that the facility could host 50-60 events annually, in addition to college matches, and generate more than $17 million a year in direct spending and possibly more than $2 million in tax revenue.

Kentucky Tennis and Pickleball Center, Inc. released the following statement Friday evening:

"Following Mayor Craig Greenberg’s announcement on Friday morning regarding the future home of a $65 million world-class racquet and paddle sports complex in the city of Louisville, Kentucky Tennis & Pickleball Center, Inc. has announced our decision to seek a new location for this project. The organization remains committed to developing this state-of-the-art facility for the people of Louisville and Kentucky.

We have worked with the Greenberg administration since February 2023, meeting once or twice a month with Deputy Mayor Pat Mulloy, Deputy Mayor Nicole George, Parks Executive Director Michelle King, Parks Director Jason Canuel, Director of Public Works Jennifer Kern, Director of Economic Development Jeff O’Brien, Director of Planning Brian Davis, Director of the Louisville Zoo Dan Maloney, as well as other members of their respective staffs. As public officials should, these individuals vetted our proposal extensively and created numerous hoops for us to jump through. We collaboratively jumped through each hoop.

At the administration’s request, we met with 20 of the 26 Metro Council members in March 2024. We met in spring 2024 with Louisville Nature Center Director Rebecca Minnick and in the summer of 2024 with Josie Raymond, who was running unopposed for the District 10 council seat. Everyone was very encouraging. We have followed the administration’s instructions in all respects. Therefore, we were very disappointed to hear that Mayor Greenberg was withdrawing his support for the project at Joe Creason Park. Nevertheless, we are realists about the political process.

We heard the Mayor say that Louisville wants world-class tennis and pickleball facilities, that he has seen huge support for our proposal (if not in Joe Creason Park), and that this is the kind of big idea that Louisville needs. We thank him for those kind words. KYTPC looks forward to working with the administration to find a satisfactory alternative site, and we expect the Mayor’s words to be quickly matched by deeds.

Due to these new developments, Saturday's community meeting at St. Xavier High School on May 10 has been canceled."

Related Stories:

'Joe Creason Park is not the place' for tennis and pickleball hub, Metro Council member says

Chants, signs and questions: Hundreds pack meeting on Joe Creason Park development

'Save Joe Creason' campaign condemns planned $65M tennis, pickleball hub at Louisville park

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