Hermosa Beach City Council reviews pickleball courts amid noise and safety concerns

The Hermosa Beach Public Works Meeting on April 9, 2025, spotlighted the ongoing challenges and developments surrounding the city's pickleball courts, a topic that has stirred significant community interest. Following a two-year engagement process, the city council approved the conversion of one of the two Kelly tennis courts into four dedicated pickleball courts in February 2022. However, safety concerns led to the temporary closure of two of these courts just months later.

Residents living near the courts have voiced ongoing complaints about noise generated by the sport, prompting city staff to form a Pickleball Stakeholders focus group in 2021. This group, which included local residents and pickleball enthusiasts, aimed to find solutions that would balance the needs of players with the concerns of nearby residents. As a result, new use policies were adopted, limiting court hours to provide relief to residents while still accommodating the pickleball community.

Currently, the Kelly Pickleball Courts are closed on Sundays and Mondays, with limited hours on other days. Feedback following the implementation of these policies indicated a significant reduction in complaints, with only a few members of the pickleball community expressing dissatisfaction over the restricted hours. However, the demand for court time remains high, with reservations being nearly fully booked.

To address safety issues and the temporary closure of the two courts, city staff has recommended a capital improvement project (CIP 619) aimed at resurfacing the courts and assessing the feasibility of reopening them. This project is expected to enhance safety and accessibility for the growing number of pickleball players in Hermosa Beach, which currently boasts 271 members in its pickleball program.

As the city moves forward with these initiatives, the balance between community enjoyment of the sport and the quality of life for nearby residents remains a key focus. The anticipated outcomes from the proposed improvements could pave the way for a more harmonious coexistence between pickleball enthusiasts and local residents.