The Äkkeküla Sports Center in Narva, a popular facility for sports enthusiasts in both Narva and the wider Ida-Virumaa region, has sparked significant discontent among local residents in nearby gardening unions. As the sports center continues its expansion, residents express their frustration over various inconveniences that this development brings to their neighborhoods. Members of the Jubileinõi gardening cooperative noted that the ski trail is visible directly from their windows, which exacerbates their feelings of disturbance and dissatisfaction.

Many residents lament the changes that Pähklimägi has undergone over the past decade, asserting that the once tranquil area has been transformed into a hub of activity that now harbors more negative aspects than positive. Andrei, the chairman of the Jubileinõi gardening cooperative, shared his experiences when he purchased his plot of land, asserting that he was seeking a quiet and private place, only for it to be altered significantly by the development of the sports center. He emphasizes his disagreement with former city development executive Sofja Homjakova’s comments regarding the former status of the territory, suggesting that the area has lost its original, peaceful character.

The situation raises significant questions about the balance between community development and preserving residential quality of life. As the sports center’s popularity continues to grow, it highlights the potential discord between commercial interests and local residents' needs, prompting calls for a more thoughtful approach to such expansions to mitigate negative impacts on the surrounding communities. The elected board member of the sports center responded to the residents' grievances, dismissing their frustrations as unfounded, which may further exacerbate tensions between the center and the local population.