PUNTA GORDA — After listening to residents pleas, Punta Gorda City Council members voted to resurface the city’s only public pickleball courts.
However, the decision wasn’t the best solution for Christy Federici who lives across the street from the Gilchrist Park courts.
She said even with the sound curtain, the noise from the four pickleball courts negatively impacts her health.
“They don’t belong there,” Federici told the City Council at the Wednesday meeting.
Eight courts were installed in 2015 as the sport gained popularity. After noise and parking complaints from Federici and other residents, the city established a pickleball committee. Members researched sound issues, newer, quieter pickleball equipment, sound barriers along with the pros and cons of the Gilchrist Park courts and alternative sites.
Resident Mike Polk said he grew up with the sounds of the Little League games being announced from Gilchrist Park. He heard the live bands from teen nights play into the night.
He said for decades, the park — which also has tennis and basketball courts a children’s play area, and the walkway leading to Harborwalk — has been an integral part of why people enjoy downtown Punta Gorda.
Mayor Lynne Matthews said the city contributed to construction of Charlotte County’s PicklePlex, 26300 Airport Road. As the PicklePlex opened, the City Council was poised to shut down the Gilchrist Park courts.
Instead, the city installed a sound curtain and two benches on the Gilchrist courts, effectively closing off access to four courts.
City Council member Debi Lux called the benches an obstruction to play.
“Are we going to keep getting sued for for trip hazards,” she said, adding the benches need to be removed and the area outside the sound curtain needed landscaping.
Lux likened pickleball noise to buying a home near an airport and then complaining about noise. She said Gilchrist Park is a community park.
City Council member Bill Dryburgh is a member of the Charlotte County’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. He said the county plans to add more pickleball courts in south county as the sport remains popular.
Like Matthews, he said he wanted the benches removed. But he wanted all eight courts to be playable.
“With the sound barrier, you can’t hear them playing,” he said. “I was standing at my car in the parking lot and I could barely hear them playing.”
Lux agreed, adding pickleball players eat, shop and contribute to the city’s economy.
Matthews didn’t favor all eight courts to reopen. She said maybe Team Punta Gorda or other green thumb groups may want to help fund a landscape project near the courts. Lux said players would likely contribute to a group beautification project.
Punta Gorda City Manager Greg Murray said staff added the benches for convenience for the players who needed to sit. He said before the benches were there, players would set up their own nets and play on the court.
City Council member Donna Peterman, who was on the city’s pickleball committee prior to being elected, said for some in the historic district, the sport created “a lot” of blood, tears and anger.
“I understand people want to play pickleball, but the county has a world-class pickleplex with plenty of courts — and you know I’ll never feel any differently,” she said, adding she would consider alternative sites for more courts.
Murray said he would add the resurfacing to the upcoming budget.
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