What caused close to 100 people to crowd the boardroom at Orland Park’s Village Hall on July 7?
Pickleball.
Over the past two years, Orland Park staff crafted plans for redevelopment at Doogan Park and after the board approved it they started seeking grants for the project. It called for 10 pickleball courts.
The new board, which took office in May, is having second thoughts about the project and came up with a proposal that would shave that down to two courts and set up a bigger pickleball area near the Sportsplex.
A majority of the crowd that came to the Committee of the Whole meeting favored keeping the proposed 10 courts. But there were also neighbors of the park – including one who presented a petition signed by 52 people against the courts – who had concerns about noise, traffic, parking and other issues.
The board unanimously voted to table any decisions on Doogan Park until staff does more research on the issue.
But it took an hour for residents to state their cases and for the board to try to hash things out.
“I love the idea of spreading pickleball options broadly across the village,” Orland Park Mayor James Dodge said. “I’m not crazy about doing it in Doogan Park – just so we’re all clear about my position.
“A number of things have been said and there are some open questions for staff and there is no reason we have to vote tonight to descope this.”
Department of Recreation and Park Director Ray Piattoni gave the board some figures on the noise issue.
He said that the pop of the racquet hitting the ball on one court at 100 feet away is 70 decibels, which is similar to a freeway or vacuum cleaner. That doesn’t include the cheering or shouting during play.
Trustee Cynthia Nelson Katsenes said that while the former board was mulling the Doogan Park changes, that information was not available to the trustees.
Piattoni said there were a handful of cases throughout the country in which noise impact has caused lawsuits and municipalities shutting down courts and removing them.
Some residents complained that the Sportsplex, located at 11351 W. 159th St., is too far away for people to go to and thought that they would be charged to play. The board said that even though the Sportplex charges for many of its services, a potential pickleball area would be free.
“I wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to be heard,” Dodge said after the meeting, “Both sides were present, and one had a petition of 52 people. It’s not an issue about pickleball. It’s an issue of where.”
He added the area that houses the ice rink in Centennial Park could be an option.
“That may be a great location for multiple pickleball courts,” Dodge said. “That’s under consideration.”
He said that no matter where the courts will end up, construction should be quick.
The playground at Doogan hasn’t been updated in YEARS. Put the grant to good use