Noise

CURRENT EFFORTS: Stop the Outdoor Pickleball Courts Project at Tucker Rec Ctr

-by Jason Flamm, the dink (pickleball site)

"We don't hate pickleball. We think everyone should play it."

July 2024: "[Neighbors] are scared to say anything because the response is often vile and lacking compassion or sympathy for the affected person," she said.

The common responses at meetings or in forums showcase this, with many pickleball players telling these people to get double-paned windows, wear noise-canceling headphones all day while at home, or even tell them they should move.

Imagine having a problem with something going on in your neighborhood – a place you perhaps grew up in yourself or a home where your children grew up – and when you voice that concern, you're told you should move.

Can you imagine how that would feel?"

Anatomy of a Noise Impact Study What is the pickleball sound?

The first Pickleball Noise Relief national Zoom call, recorded on July 9, 2023. Guest speaker was Dr. Lance Willis, Principal Acoustical Engineer with Spendiarian & Willis in Tucson, AZ. His presentation covered the science of pickleball sound and noise impact studies. He describes the protocols and standards he follows to collect data and report on the many factors that affect those in close proximity, including background sound levels, topography, vegetation and atmospheric factors. Dr. Willis is a consultant in site planning and noise impact studies which evaluate and predict the impact of noise from proposed pickleball sites, or tennis court conversions, and where appropriate recommends mitigation solutions.

Hosted by Rob Mastroianni and Nalini Lasiewicz. Music: "My Vaquero" by Nalini Lasiewicz. For more information visit www.pickleballlnoiserelief.com

VIDEO Pickleball Noise Relief Presentation

Radius of possible pickleball noise nuisance

977 ft = natural dissipation distance for noise

This area contains more than 20 homes, Tucker High School, and multiple businesses.

"Pickleball has a highly impulsive noise, with each court generating about 900 pop noises per hour," said Leahy.

"It's incompatible with residential living. Cities can locate pickleball in industrial and commercial neighborhoods rather than close to homes; best recommendation is to build courts far from homes, at least 600–800 feet away to allow the sound to naturally dissipate.

- Charles Leahy, attorney, retired mechanical engineer,

As quoted in "Pickleball courts in a legal pickle over the associated noise," by the Acoustical Society of America

Noise and Health