Grand opening of pickleball at historic Craneway Pavilion sparks excitement, protests

"This isn’t a fight about pickleball," said one of the organizers behind this weekend's protest "It’s a fight about the proper use of public space and an attempt to protect public space so it could be used by a wide range of the population."

RICHMOND — After months of speculation, a pickleball facility is opening in the historic Craneway Pavilion, sparking both excitement by those eager to use the new courts and concerns from residents worried beloved city events will no longer have a home.

Hours of activities will fill out the “grand opening” schedule this Saturday, with doors opening at 9 a.m. and lessons and matches happening until closing at 7 p.m.

What’s not on the official program, though, is a protest starting at noon outside the pavilion, 1414 Harbour Way.

When news broke that the operator of the Craneway, Orton Development, was seeking approval to build pickleball courts in the waterfront structure, the response was mixed. Enthusiasts of the rapidly growing sport were excited to learn new courts protected from the elements would be opening in the East Bay.

But skeptics have taken to City Council meetings and social media platforms to share concerns the courts would force out free and paid community events like arts and crafts shows, car shows, roller derby, the Rosie the Riveter festival, Fourth of July celebrations and more. Critics say pickleball is an improper use of the public space and installation is moving forward without proper approvals.

“This isn’t a fight about pickleball. We don’t hate pickleball and we don’t hate the people who play pickleball,” said Sue Wilson, one of the organizers behind this weekend’s protest, at which people are encouraged to dress like “Rosie the Riveter. “It’s a fight about the proper use of public space, and an attempt to protect public space so it could be used by a wide range of the population.”

Wilson said she personally would be open to a compromise that allows for both uses, but would want to see that promise in writing, noting she’s lost trust in the development firms behind the project.

She’s not alone. Former Mayor Tom Butt wants several questions answered “before the city proceeds any further with it.”

“Why did the applicant complete construction and schedule a grand opening prior to even submitting an application? This seems like a bad faith start,” he wrote in a recent emailed newsletter.

Orton Development representatives could not be reached for comment. Rachel Hong, head of PB Development, the organization behind the pickleball proposal, declined a phone interview and did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Plans call for a 75,129-square foot restaurant and a game area which will take up 27.5% of the space, most of it dedicated to the pickleball courts. But ping pong, cornhole, chess and checkers may also be offered.

According to a post on Councilmember Cesar Zepeda’s Facebook page on Monday, an updated proposal was submitted to the city on March 7, and is under review. On March 8, the city sent a letter to Orton, reminding the firm that it could not move forward with its project until the California State Lands Commission, which also governs the public land in partnership with the city, grants its approval, according to Zepeda’s post.

Under an agreement between the city and State Lands Commission, the site can be used for overnight accommodations, restaurants and cafes, water-related industry, museums regarding waterfront history, visitor-serving retail, boating and ferry service. Orton began leasing the space for $1 a year decades ago, in exchange for restoring the former Ford plant that was converted during World War II to assemble military vehicles.

The project application submitted last year said the proposal adhered to those guidelines as a visitor-serving retail space, according to a letter from the State Lands Commission responding to the application. The State Lands Commission disputes that pickleball falls within permitted uses, but the developer says the only changes are to “decor” and “theme,” which is allowed.

Unlike general retail, any businesses within public trust land have to abide by specific guidelines, “such as enjoyment of and access to the waterfront, or whether the use caters primarily to local users,” reads the Lands Commission letter from last July.

“Without additional facts or justification, staff believes the proposed pickleball facility does not fit within the meaning of visitor-serving retail as used in the agreement,” the letter says.

Sheri Pemberton, chief of external affairs for the California State Lands Commission, confirmed the agency has not provided approval for pickleball to be a use at the Craneway as of last Monday.

At Tuesday’s Richmond City Council meeting, City Attorney Dave Aleshire said officials still have concerns about the updated proposal and have sent a letter to the site operators for additional clarifying information. They’re also in the process of asking the commission to again weigh in. A city report on the project will be presented to the public during the council’s next meeting on March 26.

“We have sent a letter to the developer concerning their project and the fact of the State Lands Commission previously determined that project that was proposed was not consistent with the trust agreement,” Aleshire said. “There have been modifications to the project, but we’re still not satisfied that all the issues that were raised previously have been addressed.”