To address recurring noise complaints from surrounding residents, the pickleball courts at Memorial Park in Cupertino are facing potential restrictions that would reduce playing hours and request players to purchase quiet equipment, Cupertino Pickleball Club leader Catherine Chiu said. 

This trial would reduce accessible hours for students. Memorial Park is one of the only parks that is nearby and free of cost, pickleball club secretary, senior Rohan Bedekar said.

Students are already limited in terms of when they can use the courts since they’re in school from 8:30 to 4 pm. Restricting the time would mean fewer available hours for students to play outside of school, pickleball club president, senior Adam Orrin said. 

Chiu said her club organized a protest against the trial at the city council meeting on May 5, with members and an HHS student delivering speeches in opposition to the trial.

“We had a kid [who is] eight years old, who spoke about playing there, and we had a lady who is over 80 years old who spoke and said she played there,” Chiu said. “I know we have people who have lost loved ones who play there because they want to plug in, they want to be active [and] they find that community really mentally supportive and socially healthy for them.”

Not only does this trial harm members of the Cupertino Pickleball club, but it also harms students, Orrin said. 

“We have one of the fastest growing and newest clubs at HHS, and because students don’t have access to pickleball courts, the only and the most convenient and accessible way for them to access that for free is Memorial Park,” Orrin said. “These restrictions will limit the accessibility of the courts to students who already have full schedules.” 

Moreover, there have already been multiple restrictions put in place by the Cupertino Pickleball Club in an attempt to satisfy both the neighbors and the players, Bedekar said.

Though many spoke at the meeting, Orrin, who attended the event, said he felt as if their opinions were disregarded by the council. 

“If you have a great public service and people are coming from far away to visit, coming to your city to use your service, that’s something really beautiful, and something you should be proud of, not something you should try and gatekeep,” Orrin said. 

The Epitaph has reached out to the city, but was unable to receive a statement from them.