Sticky Glue Ruins Sumner Park Tennis Court, Sparks Local Debate

Sumner Park became the subject of heated public comment during an Oak Harbor city council meeting on November 25, after tennis players said tacky glue from tape used to lay out pickleball lines has rendered the court unusable. Nearly a dozen residents submitted written complaints asking the city to remove the adhesive residue and to find alternative courts for pickleballers, raising questions about enforcement, liability, and fair access to public facilities.

Tennis players described the residue as damaging to play and called for action. Resident Howard Strickland called the residue "simple vandalism" and urged police to press charges against the people he called tortfeasors, writing "Do not reward this criminal action." Aleksandr Litvachuck, in a public comment, said even after the tape was removed the court remained "unplayable" and recommended the city paint over the residue to restore the surface.

Parks and Recreation Director Brian Smith told the News Times that the department does not plan to remove the lines. He said, "There is no differential in the coefficient of the surface that would cause a safety issue or interfere with play other than the visual aesthetic." He added, "The visible lines left over by the duct tape put down by the North Whidbey Pickleball Association are not sticky, just visually distracting and should fade quickly over time during regular play."

The dispute sits within a larger local tug of war between tennis and pickleball players who both seek adequate playing surfaces. Residents worry about access to recreation that supports physical and mental health, while city leaders balance maintenance budgets and competing user groups. One Island County resident suggested the city expand dedicated pickleball courts and open more tennis courts at the high school for daytime use, as a practical approach to easing conflict and stretching limited municipal resources.

For Island County residents, the episode is more than an aesthetic quarrel. It raises questions about how public space is managed, how complaints are adjudicated, and who gets priority when facilities are scarce. With the Parks and Recreation decision standing for now, the debate is likely to continue as both sports grow in popularity and the city considers long term solutions for equitable access to community recreation.