As workers in Pleasanton on Sunday prepared to remove trees and grass at a community park to make room for tennis courts, residents showed up by the dozens to voice their frustrations with the city.
The gathering at Pleasanton Tennis and Community Park at Hopyard Road and Valley Avenue chanted "Leave our park" as crews fenced off an area for construction. They are scheduled to begin removing the greenery Monday morning.
Resident Daisy Ng said she didn't know about the project until she got a card in the mail last week.
"My biggest frustration is the city didn't tell us," Ng said.
Many of the families who live nearby said for years they've used the lawn to play soccer, football and walk their dogs. They said there's no need to build two more tennis courts when the existing courts are often empty.
"We have a big concern about putting two tennis courts here," Amrit Duneja said. "Some of the trees here are 25 or 30 years old."
Ng said neighbors are collecting signatures, and the group plans to fight back. They were even considering returning early Monday morning to block the entrance so bulldozers won't be able to knock down the trees.
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The city of Pleasanton did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
