The City of Fort Lauderdale is proposing to resize the current 8 pickleball courts at George English Park in order to create 6 regulation-sized courts. We respectfully ask the City to keep all 8 existing pickleball courts, regardless of their current undersized dimensions, and to explore ways to improve and potentially expand pickleball facilities rather than reduce the number of courts available to the community.

George English Park’s pickleball courts have become an important gathering place for Fort Lauderdale residents. People of all ages and skill levels come to the courts to exercise, have fun, socialize, and build community. The courts are frequently packed, with players sometimes facing a two- or three-game wait to play. Reducing the number of courts from 8 to 6 would significantly increase wait times and reduce access to one of the community’s most popular recreational activities.

Pickleball provides residents with an accessible way to stay active, support their physical health, and maintain important social connections. For many players, these courts are more than a place to play a sport—they are a regular part of their daily or weekly routine and an important source of community and connection.

The existing 8 courts may be undersized, but their extensive and consistent use demonstrates a clear community need. Removing two courts would reduce playing capacity by 25% at a facility that is already regularly at or near capacity. While regulation-sized courts may be desirable, creating fewer courts is not the only possible solution.

Instead, the City should consider whether the site can be reconfigured or improved in a way that preserves all 8 playing spaces—or potentially creates additional capacity in the future. The demonstrated demand for pickleball suggests that expansion, rather than shrinkage, would provide a greater benefit to Fort Lauderdale residents. If improvements are being planned, this is an opportunity to think creatively about how the City can serve a growing and highly active pickleball community.

The City should also consider modern amenities that can make outdoor recreation safer and more comfortable. Covered or shaded pickleball facilities are increasingly being incorporated into newer recreational developments, providing relief from intense sun and heat and allowing residents to enjoy the courts more comfortably throughout the year. Improvements such as shade structures, appropriate lighting, seating, landscaping, and other amenities could make George English Park an even stronger community recreational resource—without sacrificing valuable playing spaces.

The goal should be to improve the quality of the facility while maximizing the number of residents who can use it. At a time when the existing courts are already heavily utilized, reducing the number of available courts would move in the opposite direction.  While we salute and appreciate all efforts to enhance the GE experience, any renovation that removes courts will detract from, rather than enhance, our now beloved George English Park and will result in its “regulars” being forced to seek alternative, likely private, facilities.

We respectfully ask the City of Fort Lauderdale to:

Keep all 8 existing pickleball courts at George English Park.
Do not reduce the number of available courts from 8 to 6.
Recognize the significant and growing demand for pickleball in the Fort Lauderdale community.
Prioritize community access, playing capacity, and the number of residents served when considering improvements to the courts.
Explore reconfiguration or other design solutions that could preserve all 8 courts and, if feasible, increase the number of playing spaces rather than reduce them.
Consider modern improvements such as shade or covered court areas to reduce exposure to intense sun and heat and improve year-round comfort and usability.
Invest in improvements that enhance the quality, safety, and accessibility of the facility without sacrificing existing playing capacity.
The current demand for these courts sends a clear message: the community needs more pickleball capacity, not less. The existing 8 courts are heavily used and serve residents of many ages and skill levels. Reducing them to 6 would mean longer waits and fewer opportunities for residents to participate.

Please preserve all 8 pickleball courts at George English Park. We urge the City of Fort Lauderdale to find a forward-looking solution that improves the courts, incorporates modern amenities where appropriate, and maintains—or ideally expands—the maximum number of playing spaces available to the community.