• A $65 million tennis and pickleball complex is proposed for Joe Creason Park, funded through a mix of city bonds, state funding requests, and private donations.
• The project faces strong opposition from local residents, park users, and the Louisville Nature Center, who cite concerns about land use, traffic, environmental impact, and the planning process.
• Controversy surrounds Bellarmine University's potential involvement, with conflicting information about their formal connection to the project, despite the university's tennis coach leading the development.

Kentucky Tennis & Pickleball Center, Inc. proposes building a $65 million tennis and pickleball complex on 25 acres of Joe Creason Park, a project backed by Mayor Craig Greenberg. The complex would include indoor and outdoor courts, a restaurant, and other facilities. However, the proposal has sparked significant opposition from neighborhood residents, park users, and the Louisville Nature Center, who are concerned about the use of public land, increased traffic, environmental impact, and the perceived lack of transparency in the planning process. Two public meetings are scheduled to discuss the project and gather community feedback.

• What: A proposed $65 million tennis and pickleball complex featuring 12 indoor and 24 outdoor tennis courts, 14 indoor and 4 outdoor pickleball courts, a restaurant, and other facilities.
• Who: Kentucky Tennis & Pickleball Center Inc. (KYTPC), Will Davis (CEO of KYTPC and head tennis coach at Bellarmine University), Mayor Craig Greenberg, Louisville Metro Council, Save Joe Creason, Louisville Nature Center.
• When: Project announced in April 2025, with construction potentially beginning in Fall 2026 and completion in 2028. Planning has been underway for approximately three years.
• Where: Joe Creason Park, Louisville, Kentucky.

The proposed tennis and pickleball complex highlights a tension between economic development and the preservation of public green spaces. Supporters emphasize the potential economic benefits, including increased visitor spending and tax revenue, as well as enhanced access to racket sports for the community. However, opponents raise valid concerns about the loss of public park land, increased traffic congestion, potential harm to the Louisville Nature Center, and the appropriateness of using public funds for a project led by a private entity. The conflicting information regarding Bellarmine University's involvement adds another layer of complexity to the issue, raising questions about transparency and potential conflicts of interest. The outcome of this proposal will likely set a precedent for future development projects involving public parks in Louisville.

It's a pretty brazen land grab and it's being sold as a gift to the city.

We would like to create a racket sports facility that would be able to help every single person in our community… and make racket sports more accessible.

The university is not and has not been involved in the funding or development of this facility. There have been no negotiations between Bellarmine and any of the parties involved with the project.

The future of the proposed $65 million tennis and pickleball complex at Joe Creason Park remains uncertain, as the Louisville Metro Council weighs the potential economic benefits, including an estimated $17 million in annual visitor spending and significant tax revenue, against strong community concerns regarding environmental impact, increased traffic, and the loss of public green space. The project, spearheaded by the Kentucky Tennis & Pickleball Center, Inc. (KYTPC), has sparked considerable controversy, with the "Save Joe Creason Park" movement mobilizing to protect the park from private development and advocate for accessible green spaces for all residents. Questions surrounding the project's transparency are amplified by the potential involvement of Bellarmine University, given that KYTPC's CEO is also the head coach of Bellarmine's men's tennis program, despite claims of no formal connection. As community meetings unfold and the Louisville Metro Council prepares to make its decision, the debate centers on balancing economic development with preserving a valuable public resource and ensuring equitable access for the entire Louisville community.