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🔉 Tucker Reconsiders Pickleball Courts After Sound Study

Tucker's controversial pickleball court project at the Recreation Center might be dead in the water. After months of heated debate, a new 68-page sound study by PSM Consulting delivered some tough news: if the city wants courts at the rec center, they'd need massive, non-transparent sound barriers around each court.

City staff immediately nixed that idea, saying enclosed courts would create "safety and liability issues" with no line of sight for supervision. At their September 22nd meeting, the council voted 6-1 to pause the rebidding process entirely, with Mayor Frank Auman suggesting they halt the whole thing.

The study did offer alternatives - more courts at Henderson Park would need no sound mitigation, while Rosenfeld Park got a thumbs down for the current design. But the rec center option, which was the original plan, would require fewer courts, different positioning, and those problematic sound barriers to protect Morgan Road residents.

Councilmember Vinh Nguyen was the lone holdout, arguing that security cameras could handle supervision and that noise impacts were being overblown. "It's so infrequent, I really don't think it would have affected them," he said about nearby residents.

A public meeting about the sound study is set for September 29th, 6-8 p.m. at City Hall. Read the full study here.

Other Business:

• Council approved a $61,180 contract amendment for Johns Homestead Park dam improvements after contractors found more unsuitable soil than expected during rebuilding

• Council decided to extend due diligence period to purchase two properties next to Montreal Park

Read more from the source: Decaturish

🤝 Tucker District 2 Candidates Square Off on Mall, Code Enforcement

Tucker City Council District 2 candidates Cara Schroeder (incumbent) and challenger Patrice Cosby laid out their visions during a recent Decaturish candidate forum, touching on everything from pickleball controversies to mall redevelopment.

Schroeder, who serves as mayor pro tem, positioned herself as a community advocate focused on parks and green spaces. Cosby framed her campaign around "putting people first" and making sure every family and business owner feels "heard, valued and represented."

On the pickleball drama: Both candidates support recreation amenities but had nuanced takes on the troubled rec center project. Cosby backs pickleball courts but not "in its current stage" - she wants to explore other locations. Schroeder emphasized the need for "balanced" growth in parks programs while acknowledging both players' desires for more courts and neighbors' concerns.

Northlake Mall's future: Both see opportunity in the struggling mall. Schroeder called it a "great opportunity" that "certainly needs some revitalization." Cosby wants to transform it into a live-work-play area with some multifamily housing - "something that is more sustainable, that will bring in people that will continue and grow here."

Code enforcement concerns: This proved a key dividing line. Cosby worried about the impact of citations on families and small businesses, noting courthouse lines "around the corner" filled with code violation cases. She emphasized educating residents about what constitutes violations. Schroeder highlighted the city's new multilingual brochures (in five languages) and how code enforcement can help achieve "major master plan goals for neighborhoods."

The election will determine who represents District 2 on Tucker's city council. Watch the discussion ▶️ here!

Read more from the source: Decaturish

🎬️ Hollywood Comes to Tucker: Horror Hit 'Weapons' Transforms DeKalb Into Small-Town Pennsylvania

DeKalb County just got its biggest Hollywood moment yet, and locals might do a double-take when they see the critically-acclaimed horror film Weapons in theaters. What's supposed to be the fictional town of Maybrook, Pennsylvania? That's actually Tucker and surrounding DeKalb neighborhoods serving as the backbone of a $38 million blockbuster that's raked in over $239 million worldwide.

Director Zach Cregger's latest thriller, starring Josh Brolin and Julia Garner, follows the mysterious disappearance of an entire elementary school class who vanish into the wilderness one night. The film earned a stellar 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, and DeKalb County played a starring role in making it happen.

Local locations steal the show: Brockett Elementary School in Tucker becomes the haunting Maybrook Elementary with minimal changes—parents and alumni will recognize it immediately in the opening shot. A Tucker home perched on a hill serves as a key location, while Bigelow's Bar and Grill on Gresham Road hosts a pivotal scene between main characters. Even Redan Park's baseball fields in Lithonia get a brief cameo.

The production submitted at least 15 different filming applications for DeKalb locations, with crews working day and night on gory practical effects. But here's the heartwarming part: Tucker neighbors were so supportive they set up lawn chairs to watch the exterior shoots like it was dinner theater.

"We had a lot of late nights and the neighbors were always surprisingly easygoing," said Mike Donlan, an on-set dresser who grew up in Atlanta and knew from reading the script that this would be something special.

Why DeKalb? Tax incentives, lower costs, and solid infrastructure made metro Atlanta the perfect stand-in for "anywhere USA"—a concept Cregger borrowed from the Denis Villeneuve film "Prisoners," which was also partially shot in Tucker.

DeKalb Entertainment Commission's Bronwyn Stallcup says the county has had an above-average year for filming, surpassing $2 million in permit revenue since 2016. "I don't look at movies or TV shows the same way anymore," Stallcup admits, always watching for those familiar DeKalb locations on the big screen.

Read more from the source: Decaturish

🎬️ Last Movie on the Green for Summer 2025!

Location: Church Street Greenspace (4316 Church Street)
Date/time: 5:30pm - greenspace opens; 7pm - movie starts

Join the community for family-friendly movie nights, featuring special screenings of the following films:

• ✅ June 12th - Mufasa (rescheduled)

• ✅ June 26th - Wild Robot

• ✅ July 17th - IF

• ✅ August 21st - Shrek

• September 26th - Wicked

Bring your blankets and chairs and enjoy these movies while indulging in some great vendors. No pets unless they’re service animals. More event details here!