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Centennial resident group asks council to allow quiet pickleball balls and clarify dual‑use court rules
Summary
Members of the Knowles Homeowners Association urged Centennial officials during public comment to reconsider a permit denial for a dual‑use tennis/pickleball court and to accept quieter “quiet balls” instead of requiring a costly sound study.
Travis Beaumart, president of the Knowles Homeowners Association, told the Centennial City Council during public comment on Feb. 18 that his neighborhood sought city review of two pickleball issues: whether a court that uses taped lines should qualify as a permanent dual‑use court, and whether the city will permit the use of quieter pickleball balls in lieu of an expensive sound study.
Beaumart said the Knowles court is marked for both tennis and pickleball and the pickleball tape “is not removed hardly ever at all,” and that the HOA’s prior limited‑exception permit was denied on a temporary‑status basis. Carla Goodhart, a resident the HOA identified as a subject matter expert, said the city ordinance defines permanent outdoor pickleball courts as those with painted lines or chalk lines “that are not removed daily,” and she argued the court meets that definition.
The speakers told council staff they were unable to reach a resolution through staff member “Jess” and asked the council to reexamine their application. They also raised the cost of a required sound study — they said they were quoted “over $5,000” — and asked whether the city would accept the newer, lower‑noise “quiet ball” that Denver has used to reopen courts instead of requiring a decibel study. Goodhart demonstrated the quiet ball at the lectern and said it produced markedly less noise than a standard ball.
Council members asked about neighborhood outreach and whether the HOA had polled residents; Goodhart said the HOA had voted in favor of allowing pickleball. Councilors also noted staff questions about court orientation and why the city had previously required courts to maintain a specific direction. The presenters said staff had asked them to change one court orientation after it became “unplayable,” and they remain unclear why the permit was denied.
City staff said they would follow up; council did not take any formal action during the meeting. The speakers were told that staff would contact them for follow‑up.
The comments were made during the public comment portion of the Feb. 18 council meeting; no ordinances or permits were decided at that time.
