A proposal to deprive decades of public basketball courts on Fort Lauderdale’s historic waterfront and replace them with new pickle facilities has angered residents and prompted some to suggest a potential racial motivation.

The two beach courts were built 10 years after a landmark judicial ruling in 1962, ending the segregation of Florida City Beach. They have been popular with a wide variety of players and audiences since then.

Last year, the Fort Lauderdale City Council and developers signed an agreement that carried out a $20 billion renovation of the old Bahia Mar Marina and its surrounding land that would allow the area to turn the area into a "mini Monaco" along with luxury hotels, high-end homes, upscale shopping and Waterfrante Premenade.

But while protesters acknowledged mentioning pickled courts in the deal, they insisted that the basketball courts were never designated to be torn to accommodate them.

They fear the shift to kimchi will undermine the community traditions that basketball has provided at the location for generations. They also said that every weekend, the court is packed with players of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, with many traveling with their families.

“These courts are located in a very affluent area where you are talking about houses up to $50 million, $60 million, and then you will be in the west of the city mainly minority, with many black residents living there,” said Leo Lorenz, co-founder of Fort Lauderdale Ballet Group, whose Change the Change the Change.org oorg the Change.org and oorg of Change.org of Chand.sagnations of Cajeatures of Signatures.

“Many people who come to the court live to the west. If they don’t have a car, they take the bus. Some people ride bikes, and they all come to play on weekends.

"I've lived here for 35 years and I'm in court three times a week and I've met a lot of great people over the years. I think we, the people who go there to use them every day, have a better understanding of the representatives of these courts' representatives. They don't use it, so they don't know."

The campaigners acknowledged that certain elements of the development represented a welcome, ongoing revitalization from older parts of the city. The area began with the 19th century U.S. Army Fortress and later became a permanent residence for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the largest in the world.

However, they say that surrendering to the basketball court is unacceptable. Some even brought to social media to express the opposition.

Fort Lauderdale real estate agent Mari Bacon advised the city only hopes its "acceptable" residents version to enjoy the beach.

"I don't want to think erasing the basketball court will be the effort of the commissioner's 'white' beach that part of the effort," she wrote.

“We are all welcomed on Fort Lauderdale Beach, and the areas we particularly like are picnic tables and basketball courts.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Rahn Bahia Mar Llc, a branch of Miami Tate Capital, signed last year with developer Rahn Bahia Mar Llc, to establish a $1 million public improvement fund to improve functionality, including the installation of Pickleball Court.

But Lorentz said the first players knew that pickles would replace the basketball court, Replenish They are the time when city workers erect signs.

The sign proposed last month said the conversion was "coming soon" and provided a phone number. After that, the flag has been deleted.

Lorenz, one of the activists who attended the Fort Lauderdale committee meeting on Tuesday, said a commissioner, Pamela Beasley-Pittman, expressed his desire to keep the basketball court open and upgrade them.

He said Beasley-Pittman admitted she initially voted for the development, and wasn't aware that it meant they were shut down. She did not return the Guardian’s request for comment.

Fort Lauderdale mayor Dean Trantalis told the Sunland newspaper that he is keen to explore options for preservation or relocation.

“I don’t want to replace basketball from the beach, whether it stays in place or moves to another location,” he said. “There is a solution there and we’ll find it. There’s no need to have a public debate. We hear the community and we’ll respond.”

"The whole situation and how it unfolds is unfortunate and frustrating," James Tate, co-owner and president of Tate Capital, told Guardian in a written response, and 15 months ago, the kimchi stadium was discussed publicly and received unanimous approval from the commissioner.

"The pickle was a simple reason to choose pickle. At the time, negotiations were held, and pickle was the fastest growing sport in the country (and the range of players that extends from young children to older people, while the vast majority of basketball players were teenagers and young people."

"In short, it's determined by everyone involved in the process that the broad appeal of pickles is much more than that of Fort Lauderdale residents than basketball. Simple and simple, without any evil."

Tate said protesters used race as an argument to maintain the basketball court, are creating a false narrative and "selfishly trying to divide a great city." He added that the Guardian’s problem was “irresponsible.”

"In my book, the people who play basketball and kimchi are the same. It's ridiculous to try to suggest that a sport has only one game," he said.

"I love basketball. I played basketball all my childhood. I admire the people who can still play."

Tate said it was impossible to change the protocol for the kimchi court, but the Development Board established to oversee the project to recognize many people who still want to play basketball on the beach and “propose recommendations to the cities they are exploring now and diligently put forward suggestions.”

"If things work as suggested, then everyone should be happy," he said.