Lavretta Park pickleball courts continue to raise concerns for nearby neighbors

MOBILE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — What started out as a new recreation center for the City of Mobile has quickly become a big problem, but now city leaders think they have a solution.

For a few months, neighbors have been expressing concerns about the noise and rowdy behavior coming from the pickleball courts in the County Club Village neighborhood.

Since the courts opened, some players have been using the court outside of operation hours and hopping over gates to get inside.

A neighbor told WKRG that some players have also used their car headlights for lighting once the city lights turn off.

Mobile officials are now considering adding locks to the gates to prevent night usage. The city has also placed out signage to make pickleball players aware, but neighbors said that’s not enough.

“You complain, and you complain, but what do they do? They put a little sign out there,” Renyah Williams said. “What is a little sign going to do? Nothing.”

Williams, who has lived across the street from the courts for two years, said she’s dealt with more than noise from pickleball players.

Williams told News 5 that players use her driveway to park and have been up as early as 1 a.m. to play on the courts. Williams also mentioned that players have become aggressive when asked to quiet down.

“The park is supposed to close at dusk…12 o’clock in the morning they’re out there playing jumping the fence turning the lights on yelling cackling loud,” Williams said.

Some who enjoy the game said some players need to reel in their behavior.

“I can understand them trying to get their kids up get to school, trying to get their kids to bed, so we don’t do that,” Carla Kennedy, a pickleball player, said. “We come on the time frame.”

Mobile’s Parks and Recreation Director Kim Carmody told News 5 it’s hard to give everyone exactly what they want during the ordeal.

“Just give us a little grace,” Carmody said. “We’re going to figure it out.”

Carmody is encouraging pickleball players who want to play after 7 p.m. to head to the other city courts to be respectful of those who live there.

She’s also encouraging people to attend community engagement meetings, so they can have a place to express concerns for things like pickleball noise.

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