This is a civil rights-era tactic that was widely used in the south. When facing mandatory integration for public resources like schools, parks, swimming pools,

This is a civil rights-era tactic that was widely used in the south. When facing mandatory integration for public resources like schools, parks, swimming pools, tennis courts, frequently local governments would just shut them down instead. In some cases they could sell them to private entities cheaply who could skirt the requirement by making them "members only" and simply only having white members. The south is still dotted with country clubs that are almost or completely white-only and that have their origins in that period. It was an effective tactic! The strategic goals are different here but I can see why they'd reach for it again.