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Heather Lakes residents press Dunedin commission over pickleball noise, lights and hours
Summary
Multiple Heather Lakes residents told the City Commission April 3 that new courts at Eagle Scout Park generate constant noise, bright lights and intrusive parking; city staff said it will prepare a plan that may include acoustic windscreens, hours changes and signage and work with the sheriff for enforcement.
Several residents of Heather Lakes told the Dunedin City Commission on April 3 that weekly and daily use of nearby pickleball courts has created intrusive noise, bright lights and parking impacts that they say are harming quality of life for older residents.
The issue drew three public-comment speakers and a multi‑minute staff response. Joanne Holiday, who said she lives in Heather Lakes Building K, told the commission the noise from “cars and trucks, diesel engine trucks running” and large groups using the courts leaves her unable to rest. “I can't sit on my lanai and read a book anymore. It's too noisy,” she said.
The complaints centered on three recurring problems: early arrival and late‑night presence by court users, loud conversation and music, and headlights and parking that shine into ground‑floor and second‑floor units. Jane Powell said she recorded 47 seconds of sound from inside her living room and urged commissioners to “multiply that by 10,” referring to the number of courts. Vicky Stevens, another Heather Lakes resident, described the lights and late‑night gatherings as “torture” for older residents and asked the city to consider reducing hours to 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
The city manager (staff member) responded that staff are assembling a plan and will coordinate with the interim director of parks and recreation and the county sheriff's office. Staff listed potential measures under study: acoustical windscreens between the courts and residences, reviews of lighting fixtures and possible replacements or shielding, landscape buffers, more opaque fencing, signage asking players to keep voices down, and an enforceable revision of court hours. The manager said any change to hours would be coordinated with the sheriff to ensure enforceability.
Staff said other operational measures under consideration include targeted patrols at closing time, assessing parking layout and headlights for ground‑floor units, and posting nonresident identification or permit reminders used at other city recreation facilities. The manager asked residents to provide contact information so staff can return with a proposed plan.
Why it matters: the courts are adjacent to Heather Lakes, a 55‑plus community whose speakers said many residents have limited mobility and rely on a quieter environment for sleep, recovery and gardening. Residents told the commission they have spent thousands on sound‑mitigating doors and still feel the courts have reduced property enjoyment.
What the commission did: commissioners heard the comments and directed staff to develop and report back on a mitigation plan. No formal ordinance or hours change was adopted at the meeting.
Next steps: staff committed to produce a written plan and return to the commission with recommended measures and enforceability options; the mayor asked residents to email the city manager for follow‑up contact.
