City of Chico employees make tennis and pickleball impossible. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

First there were eight, then six, and now there are four. In this case, less is not more.

That is the plight of public tennis courts in Chico.

It’s sad.

And really, the number of courts available at 20th Street is three because the first court is for the pro, so it is not available all the time.

While tennis loses a third of its courts, the number of pickleball courts is doubling. Four pickleball courts can go on one tennis court.

The reason tennis players lost the first two courts was pickleball. Same reason this go-round.

What is really sad is that no one will be playing on these deconstructed courts for several months. That’s because the wonderful people who make decisions regarding Chico parks thought it a brilliant idea to start the project at the end of October. They are not playable for either sport today.

A sign says, “Project Begins: October 27 … Project Complete: Due to inclement weather, project delayed until spring 2023.”

What the hell?

What kind of incompetence is this? Who doesn’t look at the weather forecast before starting an outdoor project? Why start something if you can’t finish it in a timely manner?

There is a QR code on the sign as though one could get more information about the project. The link goes to the city’s recreation site with information about other projects, but nothing is there about the tennis courts.

Just another sad, disappointing day in the life of a tennis player.