Residents urge earlier hours, lighting fixes for new Liberty Park pickleball courts; commission discusses referral to council

A resident urged the Cerritos Parks and Recreation Commission to allow earlier morning and later evening play on the city’s recently converted pickleball courts and offered to help the city with lighting and net‑security solutions.

The comment came during the public‑comment period at a regular meeting, when Teddy Lloyd said the new dual‑use courts at Liberty Park open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., a schedule he said misses prime morning play for many seniors. “Please can we make that the courts open not at 10, but make it open at 7 or maybe 06:30?” Lloyd said.

The matter mattered to commissioners because the new eight dual‑use courts — created by converting two tennis courts — are part of a trial rollout. A staff member told the commission, “the courts are currently open from 10AM to 8 p.m. during the park’s operating hours,” and said the conversion was being tested on a trial basis. The staff member also said the city council previously directed staff to convert one court at Cerritos Park East to add four more dual‑use pickleball courts.

Why it matters: players, particularly older adults, requested earlier hours and improved lighting so they can use courts during cooler morning times. Staff said the…