Ocoee keeps altered pickleball hours, directs staff to study noise mitigation

The Ocoee City Commission on Oct. 21 declined to change the temporary opening hour for a neighborhood park's pickleball courts and directed staff to study noise mitigation options and potential grant funding.

Resident Andrea Jones asked the commission to allow the courts to open at 7 a.m., saying the later 8 a.m. start "disproportionately affects people who work and can only play from 7." She told commissioners the courts were "excelling" at building community and suggested a permanent swap of tennis and pickleball courts or temporary measures such as sound mitigation.

Commissioner Firstner said the earlier start would disrupt residents who live directly behind the park, adding that "their life has been disrupted" by the noise. Commissioner Firstner and other commissioners said they wanted to see how the change performs over a trial period and hear from affected residents before altering hours.

City Manager Craig told the commission staff would pursue short-term mitigation options identified in the earlier presentation and that staff had general direction to search for grant funding to help pay for measures. Parks and Leisure Director Johnson discussed sound mitigation barriers and landscaping as options and said staff could prepare recommendations for a future meeting.

After discussion, the commission voted to leave the park hours as currently set and directed staff to return with mitigation proposals and, where feasible, grant options and cost estimates. Commissioners noted an indoor pickleball facility is expected to come online within about a year.

The discussion occurred during the public-comment portion of the meeting and produced no formal ordinance or immediate change to park rules; the commission asked staff to bring proposals back for later consideration.