Louisville Mayor Pulls Support from Proposed Tennis Facility at Joe Creason Park

The neighbors won the war. Joe Creason Park has been saved.

A proposed $65 million tennis and pickleball facility created an enormous controversy in the city of Louisville. Hundreds of neighbors attended a public meeting earlier this week, pleading with officials to “Save Joe Creason Park.” Their efforts were not in vain.

On Friday morning, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg officially pulled his support for the project.

“The proposed tennis and pickleball project will not be moving forward at Joe Creason Park,” he shared in a social media post.

“At my insistence, the nonprofit group proposing this project held a community meeting for feedback. Over the last couple of weeks, I loudly and clearly heard that Louisville wants more world-class facilities for tennis, pickleball and other sports. And, I loudly and clearly heard from neighbors that this proposed project should not be built at Joe Creason Park. This is why we have community engagement. Thanks to everyone who made their voices heard during this process.”

Greenberg was one of the power players who had seemingly negotiated with The Kentucky Tennis & Pickleball Center Inc. to create a 25-acre facility at the green space across from the Louisville Zoo. He threw his weight behind it, “This project won’t take away from the park—it will enhance it.” However, he was criticized for not attending the public forum that was filled with disgruntled neighbors.

At the time, it felt like the neighbors’ cries to Save Joe Creason Park were too little, too late. The wheels of change were in motion, with too many power players backing the project. Their actions, and a little Nick Roush jinx, did enough to convince Louisville leaders that they could not move forward.

It’s a bad day to be a tennis and pickleball player in Louisville, but it’s a great day for the neighbors of Joe Creason Park. Score one for the little guy.