(CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA.) — Sunrise Recreation and Park District officials are defending their partnership with the Sunrise Pickleball Club after residents raised concerns during a recent Sacramento County Board of Supervisors meeting about public access to pickleball courts at Rusch Community Park.
Several speakers told supervisors the reservation system unfairly limits public access and alleged members of the public had been intimidated while attempting to use the courts.
In response to questions from OpGov.News, district officials said Sacramento County is not a party to the agreement. Instead, Sunrise Recreation and Park District maintains a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the Sunrise Pickleball Club governing court reservations and facility use at Rusch Community Park. The current agreement took effect in February 2026 and runs through February 2029.
(Photo Credit: Sunrise Pickleball Club.)
Under the agreement, the district provides the club use of 10 of the park's 12 pickleball courts at no charge for games, social events, clinics, youth and adult lessons. In exchange, the club agrees to support the facility by organizing court-cleaning projects, raising money for improvements, promoting the sport of pickleball and contributing toward future court resurfacing and upgrade projects approved by the district.
The agreement also requires the club to keep two courts available for public use during reserved hours, except during up to 12 annual tournaments or special events. If members of the public wish to use those courts, club members must vacate them.
According to the district, the reservation schedule includes:
Sunday through Friday (7 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.): Ten courts reserved for the Sunrise Pickleball Club while two courts remain open to the public.
Sunday through Friday (noon to 5 p.m.): All 12 courts are available for public use.
Saturday (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.): All 12 courts are open to the public.
District officials said the reservation schedule was developed based on club membership, using an average of approximately 100 members per reserved court.
While residents questioned whether too many courts are reserved for club members, district officials said the Sunrise Pickleball Club is the only organization with reserved court time at Rusch Community Park.
Officials said Sunrise Recreation and Park District operates 12 additional pickleball courts throughout the district that remain open to the public seven days a week during normal park hours. The nearest, San Juan Park, is located about 10 minutes from Rusch Community Park and includes three dedicated, fenced pickleball courts.
According to a spreadsheet provided by the district, the Sunrise Pickleball Club reserves approximately 600 court-hours per week, while the district provides approximately 1,500 court-hours of public pickleball availability each week across its facilities.
District officials also said they have not considered modifying the reservation schedule, stating community feedback has not warranted any changes.
The district said it received one complaint regarding court availability during the past year.
Officials also responded to allegations made during the Board meeting that members of the public had been intimidated while attempting to use the courts.
"Sunrise Recreation and Park District has investigated the claims that this individual made and were not able to corroborate the allegations," said Sunrise Recreation and Park District Administrator Kevin Huntzinger, in a written response to OpGov.News.
Huntzinger said they have since installed security cameras at the courts "in an effort to document any unwarranted behavior."
District officials also clarified that Sunrise Pickleball Club—not county staff or park rangers—is responsible for managing the club's reserved court times.
The district retains ownership of the facility, while the club's responsibilities include helping maintain the courts, reporting maintenance issues, supporting improvements and encouraging participation in pickleball throughout the community.
The issue was raised during public comment before the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. Because the Sunrise Recreation and Park District is an independent special district governed by its own board, no action was taken by county supervisors.
If you’d like to add or correct anything in this report, feel free to reach out to me or leave a comment below. Submit Citrus Heights tips and story ideas to Sarah Denos at sarahkdenos@gmail.com.
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