Pickleball courts in Colorado Springs park draw numerous social distancing complaints

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- In the past week, there have been 23 public complaints made about the lack of social distancing at city parks. And 19 of those complaints were made specifically about the pickleball courts at Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs, an official said Tuesday.

Karen Palus, director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, told City Council that the complaints focused on players being closer than the recommended six feet distance and on players gathering in groups of more than 10, which would be in violation of health orders established for protection against the coronavirus.

"You don't want to share equipment and surfaces with folks," she said. "We're hearing a lot of concerns about that. You just don't know if the people being complained about are family members."

Palus and Joe Johnson, president of the 1,400-member Pikes Peak Pickleball Association, believe the complaints don't represent a serious problem. Johnson added that the complaints are likely misconceptions about the activity on the courts, and that most players are well aware of the health orders and the reasons for them.

"We're not the pickleball police," he said. "We can't control people coming to play on their own. I'm sure there are violations but it's not from all of our members. I think there are families who have nothing to do and just want to get some exercise."

The courts closed this week and will remain closed through May for a project to install lights at the courts. The association has postponed tournaments and related events at the courts because of the COVID-19 pandemic. City parks have remained open and players can still use the courts in small or family groups.

On Wednesday, however, the courts' entry gates were locked and signs were posted alerting people to the closure.

The courts are the most popular in the city, serving as a regular gathering place for hundreds of dedicated players and the site of many tournaments that bring countless visitors to town.

Players are so dedicated to their sport that they donated money to renovate the courts several years ago, and have also donated $120,000 to build more courts at Bear Creek Park.

Palus said police and park rangers continue to patrol city parks and rely on voluntary compliance from the public to follow the health orders, and that there is no need to increase patrols at the pickleball courts.

Johnson said most of his members are retirees and seniors who are among the highest at-risk groups for contracting the virus.

"But they are healthy because they get a lot of exercise playing pickleball," he said. "We haven't had one member test positive or get sick."