Shakopee Just Approved Outdoor Pickleball Courts & the Neighbors Had a Lot to Say
TLDR
Drop Shot Pickleball at Shakopee Town Square got approval for up to 4 outdoor courts and a patio deck
Neighbors showed up with detailed noise research, citing lawsuits from across the country
The commission added a requirement for acoustic deadening fencing on the residential-facing sides
Courts will operate until 10 PM, seasonal use only (roughly May through October)
Construction could start as early as late May 2026
If you've ever been inside Drop Shot Pickleball at 1100 Shakopee Town Square, you know it's a legit facility — 28,000+ square feet, 8 indoor courts, party room, the whole deal. They've been open for three years in a space that used to be a grocery store vacant for a quarter century.
Now they want to take things outside. And not everyone's on board.
What's Being Built
Drop Shot owner Justin Harri came to the Shakopee Board of Adjustment and Appeals on May 7 requesting a conditional use permit for up to 4 outdoor pickleball courts on the north side of the building. Each court is 64 by 30 feet. The entire area would be surrounded by an 8-foot chain link fence.
There's also a deck planned for the old loading dock on the east side of the building. Right now it's a concrete pit where trucks used to back in. The plan is to build a level deck that connects to the indoor party room — tables, chairs, a hangout space for players.
Access to the courts would work through CourtReserve, the same booking system they use indoors. Players get a timed, unique access code when they reserve — so no random people wandering in. There's also a fire-escape gate in the northeast corner for emergencies.
The big reason for going outdoors? Seasonality. Indoor pickleball is packed in winter but quieter in summer. Outdoor courts flip that script and help even out the business through the year. The courts would only operate roughly May through October — no one's playing outside in a Minnesota winter.
The Neighbors Pushed Back Hard
This is where the meeting got intense.
Rachel Dubet lives directly behind the proposed courts. Her backyard is roughly 50 feet from where the courts would go. She came to the microphone with a detailed, researched presentation that ran through several major concerns.
Noise was the biggest one. Pickleball produces about 70-80 decibels at the point of contact — a sharp, repetitive pop that carries. Dubet cited pickleball noise lawsuits from Minnesota (Maple Grove in 2025), Florida, California, Colorado, and several other states. She noted that some cities have reduced hours, removed courts, or banned pickleball entirely after residents complained.
She also asked pointed questions: What noise modeling has been done? What about sound studies? Have mitigation strategies like court orientation or acoustic fencing been evaluated?
Light pollution was another concern. Even with shields on the lights, she argued that any illumination would add ambient light to a currently dark residential area.
Foot traffic was personal. The city trail runs right along her property line, and she said they've already dealt with harassment directed at their dogs and litter thrown into their yard — all before the pickleball courts were even proposed.
Proximity to Takata Learning Center — an alternative high school right next door — raised concerns about bus access, alcohol service down the road, and student safety.
Her husband Kyle came up separately to make one point: this isn't temporary construction noise that lasts a week. This would be continuous, every summer day, for the rest of their lives.
How the Commission Handled It
The commissioners clearly took the residents' concerns seriously but also acknowledged the zoning reality. The property is zoned B1 — Shakopee's most flexible commercial zone. Staff pointed out that without Drop Shot, the space could have become a fast food restaurant, a car wash, or any number of louder alternatives — all without needing a public hearing.
City staff confirmed that Shakopee's noise limit for the B1 zone is 70 dB measured at the property line. Since the sound starts at 70-80 dB at the court surface and decreases with distance, it should technically fall below the threshold before reaching homes. Quiet hours in Shakopee are 10 PM to 7 AM on weekdays.
The key compromise came from the commissioners themselves. They asked the applicant if he'd be willing to upgrade from the standard 90% opaque fence screening to actual acoustic deadening material — products specifically designed for pickleball courts, like Sports Sonic Guard. Drop Shot agreed.
Commissioner Foresight made the final motion: approve the CUP with the condition that acoustic deadening fencing be installed on the north and east sides (the two sides facing residential properties). It passed 5-0.
The commission also discussed tree height — city minimum is 6-foot evergreens. Some commissioners floated requiring taller trees, but staff explained that larger transplanted trees have much lower survival rates. They settled on the standard 6-foot minimum and relied on the acoustic fencing as the primary noise mitigation tool.
What About Future Plans?
Harri mentioned a few things that aren't part of the current approval but could come later. He's looking at adding food and beverage service — a small kitchen that could serve the patio area. There's no timeline on that. He also said any live music would be low-key and limited to daytime hours.
None of that is approved or applied for yet. If food/beverage or entertainment is added, it would likely require additional permits.
The Bigger Picture
Drop Shot has been a net positive for Shakopee Town Square by most measures. When they moved in, the mall was at roughly 80% vacancy. The loading dock was, according to the applicant, a homeless encampment. Lights were broken out across their end of the building. Since then, the mall has been repainted, re-roofed on their end, and filled up — a new golf simulator and ETS Sports recently opened nearby.
Drop Shot also lets Takata Learning Center students play during recess on Tuesdays and Thursdays — something that started with 2-4 kids and now averages 16-20. They hosted the Randy Shaver Cancer Foundation pickleball tournament at their facility, raising over $10,000.
But for the neighbors living 50 feet away, none of that erases the reality of a new outdoor noise source in their backyard. The acoustic fencing is a start. Whether it's enough remains to be seen.
The Bottom Line
If you live near Shakopee Town Square, outdoor pickleball is coming. Construction could start by late May. The Shakopee Planning Commission added the acoustic fencing requirement as a buffer, but residents will need to monitor the situation once courts are active.
If noise does become a problem, the city has a complaint process through the police department. Staff measure sound at the property line — and the threshold is 70 dB during daytime hours.
The next meeting is June 4 at 7 PM if you want to weigh in on future items.
FAQ
How close are the courts to the nearest house?
About 50 feet from the closest residential property line to the courts, and roughly 100 feet to the nearest house itself. The patio/deck is even closer — maybe 40-50 feet from the property line.
Will there be a noise study done after the courts are built?
One resident asked this directly, and city staff didn't commit to a formal post-construction study. However, if residents file noise complaints, the police department has a sound meter and will measure decibel levels at the property line.
Can the courts operate before 7 AM?
The applicant initially said hours would be 6 AM to 10 PM, but Shakopee's quiet hours restrict noise from 10 PM to 7 AM on weekdays and 9 PM to 9 AM on weekends/holidays. So the practical outdoor start time would align with those quiet hours.
What's acoustic deadening fencing?
It's fence material specifically designed to absorb or redirect sound rather than letting it pass through. Products like Sports Sonic Guard are made for pickleball courts. One commissioner said it could cut the perceived noise roughly in half.
Can I still file a noise complaint even though the courts were approved?
Yes. The CUP approval doesn't exempt the facility from Shakopee's noise ordinance. If sound at your property line exceeds 70 dB during allowed hours, or any sound occurs during quiet hours, you can file a complaint with the city.
