Big pickleball expansion plans to be reviewed

ORLAND PARK DOOGAN PARK

Move comes after public input discussing pros and cons

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A billboard at Doogan Park, 14700 Park Lane, Orland Park, details plans for major improvements at the park, although the village will review the number of new pickleball courts. Mike Nolan/Daily Southtown photos

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A pickleball court at Orland Park’s Doogan Park, 14700 Park Lane. Village officials are reviewing whether to add eight more courts.

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By Mike Nolan Daily Southtown

A big expansion of pickleball in Orland Park is going back for review after residents spoke for and against adding courts at a village park.

Orland Park officials initially, after planning big improvements at Doogan Park, talked about adding eight pickleball courts to the two there now.

The village has worked for a couple of years to plot out additions to the 17-acre park, 14700 Park Lane, including refurbished baseball and soccer fields, adding new playground equipment and pavilions, an asphalt loop trail and sled hill.

Some village trustees said having a large pickleball complex at the village’s Sportsplex, 11351 W. 159th St., might make more sense.

A large crowd at a recent Village Board committee meeting talked about the pros and cons of news courts at Doogan, with the village saying the idea to drop adding courts at Doogan part of a “descoping” of the initial plan.

Resident Peggy Campbell said pickleball is a quickly growing sport, and said the original plan to add more courts at Doogan made sense.

Another resident who lives near the park said she “plays pickleball often, I enjoy the game,” but had gathered several signatures on a petition opposed to more courts at Doogan.

Pickleball has been the country’s fastest-growing sport in the country for the last few years, according to organizations such as the Sports and Fitness Industry and USA Pickleball.

It’s estimated there are close to 70,000 courts across the country, including public spots and private courts, such as those at health clubs. There are 22 courts in Orland Park, public and private.

Advocates say hundreds of millions of more dollars need to be spent to provide enough courts to keep up with demand.

Orland Park is setting a goal of the village having a dedicated pickleball complex at Doogan, said Ray Piattoni, the village’s director of parks and recreation.Some trustees, including Cynthia Katsenes, asked whether changing the scope of the Doogan plans and eliminating the new pickleball courts would jeopardize a $600,000 state grant the village received tied to work at Doogan.

She said issues such as noise and traffic had been discussed at past meetings.

“I would like to see this project go forward,” Katsenes said.

Trustee Joanna Liotine Leafblad said she favored tabling the matter for more review.

“There is cause to reconsider how we’re doing it,” she said.

Trustee John Lawler said it’s never too late to listen to residents and reconsider the plans.

He said it is “probably a better idea to step back and take a look at this,” after some residents who live near Doogan opposed the expansion.

Trustee Michael Milani said he favored taking a step back, but he wanted the review to focus on whether the Sportsplex is a feasible site and whether moving the courts would put the state grant in peril.