Wier Park Drops Pickleball on Two Courts

Pickleball play stopped on two courts in the western part of Wier Park on Oct. 23. The West University Place Parks and Recreation Board recommended the change, and the city issued a public announcement confirming the move.

City staff conducted an acoustical study to measure how pickleball activity affects nearby homes. The report found that the sounds produced by the game stand out more than noise from tennis or basketball. Residents living close to Wier and Judson Parks reported these distinctive sounds were much more noticeable during repeated play.

The board voted in May to start a trial period for modified rules. That experimental window opened on June 22. Under the current guidelines, players can use the parks from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The rules require the use of quieter equipment after 8 p.m. This trial is pending final rule modifications.

Officials considered building sound barriers around the courts to reduce noise. They found the solution unfeasible because the barriers needed to be too tall to work effectively. The cost to erect such structures also played a role in the decision.

The board also evaluated stricter requirements for specialized quiet equipment. Staff noted that these tools do not offer players the same performance as standard gear. This performance gap made a mandate for quiet equipment a less attractive option.

The Parks and Recreation Board will discuss next steps for the Wier and Judson Parks courts at its Nov. 4 meeting. The existing modified rules remain in effect until that date. Department officials plan to re-stripe the two discontinued pickleball courts for tennis play only. The city will notify users and residents when the resurfacing work is scheduled.

The decision follows a brief collection of resident feedback alongside the acoustical data. The city is moving to convert the space back to a single sport to address the specific complaints about noise distinctiveness.