Pickleball, often called America’s fastest growing sport, is played with a plastic ball with holes that makes a unique sound as it bounces off hard clubs and the court. In a Massachusetts town where public courts are yards from private homes, that noise has become a source of controversy. The sport is a hybrid of tennis, badminton and table tennis that was invented in 1965. The sport is played on what appears to be a smaller tennis court. In Wellesley, tennis courts at several parks have been outfitted for pickleball courts in recent years. John Mancini, who said he lives about 100 feet from the courts at Sprague Field, said during a virtual meeting that the sound of pickleball permeates every room of his home, preventing him from enjoying his porch in warmer weather. “When people voted to allow these pickleball courts last year, certainly none of them were aware of the noise complaints that pickleball noise causes,” he said. Another resident, Jim Garvey, suggested that accurate sound measurements needed to be taken. He also suggested that noise complaints about a sport mostly played by adults were a form of ageism. “It’s okay for young people to make noise when they’re playing soccer, baseball or lacrosse in Sprague, but older people aren’t given the same rights,” he said. Garvey suggested officials should seek a compromise that might involve limiting the hours played on the courts or installing a sound barrier. Doug Steinberg, a pickleball coach, also made a public comment saying noise barriers could be hung on the fences to significantly reduce noise. Paul Cramer, chair of the Wellesley Recreation Commission, said his department had already surveyed the barriers and determined that they would cost between $20,000 and $30,000 to install. “We understand that this is an issue for residents of the area and an issue that we need to address,” Cramer said. Kerry Sullivan, who lives next door to Perrin Park, says pickleball noise is different from other sports. “The sound of children enjoying their sport is not a nuisance. Pickleball noises are different. It’s a high-impact noise,” she said. “You may hear the sound of the ball hitting the paddle, but more importantly, you hear the players laughing and having fun,” said Kenna Giuliani, another Wellesley resident who says she is a frequent pickleball player is. Concluding the meeting, Cramer said all viewpoints would be considered ahead of future meetings where decisions could be made. He also said he will continue to bring the issue to other relevant city groups, including the school committee.
WELLESLEY, MA —
Pickleball, often called America’s fastest growing sport, is played with a plastic ball with holes that makes a unique sound as it bounces off hard clubs and the court. In a Massachusetts town where public courts are yards from private homes, that noise has become a source of controversy.
The sport is a hybrid of tennis, badminton and table tennis that was invented in 1965. The sport is played on what appears to be a smaller tennis court.
In Wellesley, tennis courts at several parks have been outfitted for pickleball courts in recent years.
John Mancini, who said he lives about 100 feet from the courts at Sprague Field, said during a virtual meeting that the sound of pickleball permeates every room of his home, preventing him from enjoying his porch in warmer weather.
“When people voted to allow these pickleball courts last year, certainly none of them were aware of the noise complaints that pickleball noise causes,” he said.
Another resident, Jim Garvey, suggested that accurate sound measurements needed to be taken. He also suggested that noise complaints about a sport mostly played by adults were a form of ageism.
“It’s okay for young people to make noise when they’re playing football, baseball or lacrosse in Sprague, but older people aren’t given the same rights,” he said.
Garvey suggested officials should seek a compromise that might involve limiting the hours played on the courts or installing a sound barrier.
Doug Steinberg, a pickleball coach, also made a public comment saying noise barriers could be hung on the fences to significantly reduce noise.
Paul Cramer, chair of the Wellesley Recreation Commission, said his department had already surveyed the barriers and determined that they would cost between $20,000 and $30,000 to install.
“We understand that this is an issue for residents of the area and an issue that we need to address,” Cramer said.
Kerry Sullivan, who lives next door to Perrin Park, says pickleball noise is different from other sports.
“The sound of children enjoying their sport is not a nuisance. Pickleball noises are different. It’s a high-impact noise,” she said.
“You may hear the sound of the ball hitting the bat, but more importantly, you hear the players laughing and having fun,” said Kenna Giuliani, another Wellesley resident who says she is a frequent pickleball player is.
Concluding the meeting, Cramer said all viewpoints would be considered ahead of future meetings where decisions could be made. He also said he will continue to bring the issue to other relevant city groups, including the school committee.
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