Pickleball demand raises commission concern

Pickleball fans spoke at the Town Commission’s annual goals and objectives meeting to further the discussion on the growing demand for the sport.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

What to do about pickleball at Bayfront Park? That’s the question that Longboat Key town commissioners have pondered since the beginning of the year when fans of the sport first appeared before them asking for help in meeting demand for the growing sport.

As seasonal residents fly north for the summer, some demand may wane, but residents said a solution still needs to be found due to the continued popularity growth of the sport and eventual return of parttime residents.

Fans of the sport have come to commission meetings seeking additional courts, whether through the construction of new courts or the re-striping of a tennis court that is not used as often.

The park currently has five courts available, allowing for a maximum of 20 people to play the sport at any given time. In February, resident Dave Levine told commissioners that more than 40 people are sometimes waiting to play on one of the courts.

“We have an activity that is growing and doubling almost every year,” he said during the commission’s annual goals and objectives meeting. “We have a situation where we don’t have any alternative to play publicly, except at Bayfront Park right now.”

In peak season, it’s likely the sport prevents others from using the area as beach parking, letting their dogs play at the newly renovated dog park or taking their grandchildren to the playground. The issue shifted discussion to the park’s original intent — to serve as a multiamenity park.

“It was supposed to be an all- encompassing park to meet all the needs of many different activities,” Commissioner BJ Bishop said of the creation of the park’s master plan.

Commissioners discussed the potential for implementing a court reservation system or fees for court use. For example, at the Longboat Key Club and Resort, members must reserve time to use the courts.

“When you want to play clay tennis ... it requires a tremendous amount of resources,” Levine said. “It absolutely requires a reservation system.” But he said pickleball is more of a “come as you want to” sport that does not require many resources or lend itself to a reservation system.

“The nature of the activity allows dozens and dozens of people to have the kind of recreation that they like,” he said. “Monetizing and having a reservation system is not the way to