The City of Martinez City Council has passed Resolution 25-125 to address neighborhood concerns surrounding the newly constructed pickleball courts at the Hidden Valley Sports Courts.
The courts officially opened on February 28, 2025. The City subsequently began receiving complaints from nearby residents, primarily related to noise and parking. Trial periods and adjustments to court hours and rules were done throughout the spring and summer.
At a Special City Council Meeting on September 18, 2025, staff reported on the various steps taken and results of the latest trial period. Community members also shared their comments and feedback of recent efforts.
After exploring various options, the City Council passed Resolution 25-125 ,changing the court hours and establishing specific rules for the Hidden Valley sport courts.
New Hours, Hidden Valley Sport Courts
- Tuesdays: 4pm-8pm
- Wednesdays: 8am-8pm
- Sundays: 9am-1pm
- Closed all other days and times.
These changes go into effect September 24, 2025, and will be in effect indefinitely.
In addition to the change of hours, the resolution calls out specific rules to address neighborhood concerns. These rules include:
- No person shall climb, jump, or otherwise bypass locked gates or fences.
- No animals (unless service animals), food, glass, alcohol or smoking.
- No skateboards, scooters, bikes or other wheel-based sports.
- No public urination.
- No tournaments without City approval.
- No shade structures or other structures may be placed within the courts or affixed to the courts or other park property.
- No private instruction or using the City facility for personal business without City approval.
- No amplified sound without City approval.
The full Resolution is available here: Resolution No. 25-125 Hidden Valley Sport Courts Revised Rules and Regulations
A community survey will be sent out to neighborhood residents to better gather information and decide if further adjustments will be needed.
In an update on Saturday, Martinez released the following statement:
After persistent noise and crowd impacts at the Hidden Valley Sport Courts, the City changed the hours to address quality-of-life impacts negatively affecting residents living near the courts. This was a very difficult decision for the City, and we recognize that no single solution can fully satisfy everyone affected by this matter.
Unfortunately, in less than 24 hours of the new hours in place, we already had incidents of site damage, including unlocked and dismantled gates, and pickleball play during closed hours. These incidents not only compromise the safety of the area, they will impact the City’s ability to keep the courts open if they continue.
The new and refurbished courts, funded by federal grant dollars, officially reopened in February 2025 and quickly become a beloved space for recreation. We’ve also received resident feedback about noise and unneighborly activity. In response, we’ve gone through multiple trial periods and tested different schedules, rules, signage, and messaging, and have been working closely with both players and neighbors to find a solution that respects everyone’s experience. The reduced hours were put in place to give local residents some peace of mind and address their quality of life concerns in their own neighborhood.
A survey will be sent out soon to the nearby residents to gather neighborhood-specific input. If you have comments or suggestions, we welcome your input, too! Reach out to us at [email protected] with your comments. We want to work together to keep these courts safe, open, and welcoming.
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