Started by Jason Ison
Woodlake Park pickleball courts, in Lakeland Florida, have been operating from dawn to dusk for about 10 years. Recently, lights were installed to extend evening play to 9 pm which triggered a backlash from the nearby Waterford neighborhood even though adjacent tennis courts have been lighted until 9 pm for 20+ years.
https://www.change.org/p/keep-woodlake-park-pickleball-courts-open-from-dawn-to-dusk
A few Waterford residents pushed to turn the pickleball lights off and change the operating hours to 8 am – 8 pm. They even started policing the parking lot before 8 am with city officials.
Soon after the new park hours went into effect, the same few Waterford residents pushed further and spearheaded a petition to completely shut down pickleball at Woodlake Park.
There is a large pickleball community at Woodlake Park that has grown over the 10 years. Many people play in the early morning hours prior to going to work. Others play in the evening after work. Persons of all ages play at this lovely park. This petition is to save and reinstate the pickleball courts to how they were for almost 10 years.
https://www.change.org/p/keep-woodlake-park-pickleball-courts-open-from-dawn-to-dusk