Park City pickleball open house to be held Wednesday after no clear resolution at planning meeting

Park City’s decision to make future public courts and craft changes to its land management code remains in question despite a high number of citizens in favor of establishing more courts for leisure. Photo: Ben Hershey.

PARK CITY, Utah — Following a pickleball survey and a planning commission meeting last week to discuss the results, Park City’s decision to make future public courts and craft changes to its land management code regarding private residences remains in question despite a high number of citizens in favor of establishing more courts.

Roughly 600 citizens participated in the community survey which ran from Jan. 17 to Feb. 16. Of the participants, 80% were current pickleball players and 7% stated they don’t currently play but would like to in the future. The survey also revealed that 75% of respondents were in favor of allowing courts at private residences, while another 56% said people should be allowed to play outside of daylight hours.

While most participants were clearly in favor, one of the greatest oppositions is the noise issue pickleball presents. Traditionally played on a hard court with a ball and paddles, some residents raise concerns and have complained about excessive noise coming from residential courts or courts open after dark.

In response to the survey, the Park City Planning Commission reviewed the survey results at its meeting on Wednesday and discussed the pickleball-related code changes. A popular point of conversation — commissioner Doug Thimm mentioned the setback requirements and noted the level of noise as a common theme of opposition.

“150 feet seems fairly arbitrary,” Thimm said. “To me, half a football field is just a very long distance when the major impact seems to be noise. There is a visual issue and I’m thinking in my mind that a 25-foot setback not to the court, but to the noise-mitigating wall is kind of where I would tend to land.”

With no clear resolution and the outcome in question, commissioners plan to revisit the proposed code changes at a meeting scheduled for March 23rd.

Park City Municipal is hosting another pickleball open house on Wednesday, March 9 from 12-1:30 pm at the Park City Library.