I live in a peaceful neighborhood that has recently been disrupted by the introduction of a local pickleball court. The court was established without proper consultation with the local community. While my neighbors and I appreciate the spirit of promoting sports and outdoor activities, we believe that our right to a peaceful living environment should not be compromised.

Pickleball is a fast-growing sport especially among seniors, with more than 3.46 million players in the United States alone, as per the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. However, the noise that comes with it—particularly from the plastic ball hitting the hard paddles—can reach up to 60 decibels, unlike tennis the hard sound of the strike is very obvious and annoying.  In addition some players get very vocal and the shouts and celebrations can be heard at a great distance from the court.   This would be bearable within a sports complex, but within a residential area, it becomes a nuisance.

The American Noise Pollution Clearinghouse asserts that noise pollution can lead to stress, high blood pressure, and sleep disruption among others. In a residential area, it compromises comfort, concentration, and overall quality of life. It is vital to balance community development goals with residents' rights to tranquility.

We call upon our local government and the Pickleball association to implement noise abatement measures for this pickleball court. Possible solutions could include setting designated playing hours, installing sound barriers, using noise reducing paddles and foam balls, all of which shouldn’t impact game play.  Obviously relocating the court is now no longer an option.

We stand for promoting sports and community engagement, but not at the expense of residential peace. Please sign this petition to support our endeavor to reduce noise pollution from the pickleball court.