Although pickleball provides many benefits to players, the noise generated  becomes an issue when courts are located too close to homes. We want to enforce distance requirements for private pickleball courts in residential communities.

Imagine waking up to an 80 decimal pong pong pong noise followed by exuberant screaming.  Imagine trying to meditate, or enjoy the sound of birds, or trying to work or nap only to be audibly pummeled by your next door STR guests.  Now, imagine the value of your property plunging 20 percent when you try to sell, because of a next door noise nuisance.

This is exactly what is starting to happen at Sky Mountain Ranch in Sedona.  And this problem will spread rapidly as investors learn they might rent more frequently and charge more money by having a pickleball court in the back yard.  The time to act is now!  We need an ordinance to prevent this potential plague.

 Why? Because pickleball noise harms people, pets and wildlife. It is a well-documented noise nuisance:

1. Pickleball play creates highly impulsive noise, generating 900 pop noises per hour, at close to 110 decibels(dB) at the paddle, and about 70dB from 100 feet away.  For comparison, a jack hammer produces 100 dB, and a vacuum cleaner produces 75 dB. This significantly exceeds Sedona’s noise threshold of 60 dB (day) and 50 dB (night). Imaagine listening to that all day!
2. Studies report that pickleball pop noise radiates 2 blocks away (977 feet). For example, noise from one pickleball court in Sedona's Sky Mountain Ranch will infiltrate more than 40 private properties in Sky Mountain Ranch and Back O’ Beyond, plus 2 churches, a synagogue and a fire station
3. Pickleball paddle strikes create “impulsive noise”;  chronic exposure to impulsive noise leads to stress, fatigue, anxiety and disease in humans, pets and wildlife. 
4. Lastly, homes that are adjacent to a pickleball court experience up to a 20% deterioration in property values. This is devastating to home owners  

We collectively oppose allowing any private sports courts that cause a noise nuisance, because it will disrupt the tranquility and quiet enjoyment of our neighborhood, cause undue stress to residents, wildlife and pets, and negatively impact the property value of our homes.  

We need YOUR SUPPORT to PROHIBIT pickleball and other impulsive noise sports courts at our Sedona homes!

References

1. Spendarian & Willis Acoustics and Noise Control LLC, July 11, 2023 City pf Centennial Co Pickleball Noise Impact Assessment and Abatement Planning Chapter 6:- https://www.centennialco.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/documents/city-projects-and-initiatives/centennial-pickleball-noise-assessment.pdf
2. Phys.org website, May 17,2024. Paragraph 9:  https://phys.org/news/2024-05-pickleball-courts-legal-pickle-noise.html
3. Pickleball Sound Migration Facebook, Bob Unetich’s expert response to Maribeth Putnam, Mar 20, 2024: https://www.facebook.com/groups/145879006219534/posts/the-actual-pickleball-pop-noise-is-estimated-at-120-to-130-db-most-decibel-meter/1634512554022831/
4. IAC Acoustics blog, July 30 2024: https://www.iacacoustics.com/blog-full/comparative-examples-of-noise-levels
5. Sedona City Code, Chapter 8.25.30, Table 1: https://sedona.municipal.codes/SCC/8.25.030
6. The Hustle, Mark Dent,  Bob Unetich, July 21, 2023:  https://thehustle.co/one-mans-quest-to-make-pickleball-quiet
7. Journal of Environmental Psychology, June 2922:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494422000640
8. Pet MD, Feb 2, 2022: https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/signs-anxiety-dogs-and-puppies
9. Psychology Today, Dec 15, 2022: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/202212/how-much-loud-noise-can-a-dog-tolerate
10. Financial Samurai Website, May 5, 2024: https://www.financialsamurai.com/quantifying-pickleball-impact-on-real-estate-prices/