Pickleball Noise Controversy in Kittery: The quiet of Kittery’s Admiralty Village has been disrupted by a brewing dispute over pickleball court noise, leading a resident to threaten legal action against the town. The pickleball noise controversy centers around a neighbor, a night-shift trauma nurse, whose sleep is being affected by the noise from the recently opened new pickleball courts.
The Impact of Noise on Local Residents
For years, the park in Admiralty Village had been relatively serene. That changed with the introduction of two new pickleball courts last year. The neighbor, whose home is just six feet from the courts, has reported being woken by the noise and the activities of players retrieving stray pickleballs from her yard. Her attorney claims she has sought medical care due to stress and health issues stemming from disrupted sleep.
“She has sought medical care for the stress and health impacts of sleep deprivation caused by the Emery Field pickleball courts.” – (Kittery Town Council Chair Judy Spiller)
Town’s Efforts and Public Reactions
In response to the pickleball noise complaints, the town initially took measures by cutting down trees between the courts and the neighbor’s home and subsequently installing barriers and planting additional trees. The neighbor also installed new windows, but these efforts have proven insufficient. A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, described the noise as
“They work nights. They try to sleep during the day. And you hear it. It’s noisy.”
“It is very hard to sleep during the day, period, I think.” – (Donna Philbrick)
Official Response and Proposed Solutions
During a recent town council meeting, Chair Judy Spiller suggested exploring the use of quieter paddles and balls. However, according to Kittery’s noise ordinances, which primarily address animal noise, pickleball noise falls outside its jurisdiction.
Councilor Cyrus Clark expressed skepticism about the possibility of mitigating the noise, proposing the conversion of the pickleball courts to badminton courts as a quieter alternative. Clark admitted, “We made a mistake putting the pickleball court there,” and emphasized that the situation might be beyond rectification.
News in Brief: Pickleball Noise Controversy in Kittery
In Kittery, Maine, a dispute over noise from new pickleball courts has escalated to a potential lawsuit. A resident, a night-shift trauma nurse, claims that the noise disrupts her daytime sleep and has led to health issues. Despite efforts by the town to mitigate the problem—such as installing barriers and planting trees—the issue persists.
Local officials, including Kittery Town Council Chair Judy Spiller and Councilor Cyrus Clark, have discussed possible solutions, including quieter paddles or converting the courts to badminton. However, existing noise ordinances do not cover pickleball noise, complicating the resolution.
Also Read: Falls Church Confronts Pickleball Complaints: Noise and Court Access Issues
