The Planning Commission voted July 24 to approve a special permit for outdoor pickleball courts at the North Park Mall site, allowing both indoor and outdoor play under the applicant’s plan and subject to a technical evaluation that limits operating hours and other program details.

David Box, speaking for the applicant, described the outdoor courts as adjacent to the mall building and noted the parking lot sits much lower than the neighboring residential area, with a drive lane, a heavily treed landscape buffer and a retaining wall between the courts and homes. “We're comfortable meet, all noise ordinance that exists within Oklahoma City,” Box said, adding that the applicant had limited hours in the program description reflected in the TE.

Commissioners and at least one nearby resident who plays pickleball said they had visited the site and judged the existing vegetation, fence and topography to be substantial buffers. One commissioner said the distance to the nearest homes was “probably 200 feet” and noted time-of-day lighting restrictions are included in the proposal. The commission asked staff and the applicant to ensure that the operator had mechanisms to respond if noise became a problem.

Action: The Planning Commission approved the special permit with Technical Evaluation (TE) number 1 (limiting outdoor hours and requiring adherence to the program description and noise standards). The item was approved by recorded voice vote.

Why it matters: Pickleball is loud at times because of ball acoustics, and such outdoor courts have generated neighborhood disputes in other communities. The commission conditioned approval on hours and relied on existing landscape and elevation buffers.

What’s next: The operator must follow the conditions set in the approved TE; staff and neighbors said they will monitor noise levels and compliance.