Florida man calls pickleball community the 'pickle mafia' at public meeting

The Kitchen Team

Covering all things pickleball

Last Edited

Jul 02 2025

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We've been called a lot of things as pickleball players over the years. Crazy, obsessed, LOUD, annoying ... the list goes on.

And honestly in a lot of cases pickleball players would probably admit to being those things from time to time.

But a Florida man recently took the pickleball insults to new heights when he referred to a group of pickleballers as the "pickle mafia" during a St. Johns County, Florida, planning and zoning meeting.

The comment came during a discussion over a proposed indoor pickleball facility along U.S. 1 North. The owners are seeking a Special Use permit to build a private membership pickleball facility within the Rolling Hills Industrial Park, but neighboring business owners have raised concerns about safety and parking.

Opponents say large trucks frequently navigate the industrial park and the additional traffic may create safety hazards for others. Others worried that the new facility would take up parking used by customers of the existing businesses.

During public comments, one opponent said, “With the Pickle Mafia ... where it’s at it becomes their ground and they start taking it up and taking it over. It does and it will.”

While pickleball players certainly are a tight community, comparing us to the mob seems a bit dramatic.

In the end, the Planning and Zoning Agency unanimously approved the plan with conditions to add signage to prevent parking issues.

Next, the project will be presented to the county commission for final approval.

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