Residents of the Mulberry Grove area want more pickleball courts.
Pickleball players from that region showed up en masse Wednesday morning at the Amenity Authority Committee to make a plea for additional courts.
They presented to the AAC a petition signed by more than 100 pickleball players.
In their petition, they call for a minimum of four additional courts at the Mulberry Grove Recreation Center.
Residents are fearful of the impact of 300 additional courtyard villas planned for the Marion County section of The Villages.
George Perkins, representing the group, said there is already a long wait for pickleball courts, particularly during peak season. At those times, particularly from 7 to 11 a.m., there are up to 40 to 50 players waiting on the bench, he said.
Overcrowding at the Mulberry Grove and Chatham recreation centers is an area of concern for Marion County Villagers. Many have said they believe the recreation centers are already overcrowded. The Villages has said they will build two recreation centers for the new homes, but have described those recreation centers as “a postal station and a pool.”
