Halifax Pickleball Courts: Noise complaints have led to the closure of pickleball courts at Castle Hill Park in the Wedgewood neighborhood. The Halifax regional council directed the chief administrative officer to remove the pickleball court markings and nets after residents near the park expressed concerns over the loud noise generated by the sport.
The noise, particularly from the sound of plastic balls hitting solid paddles, proved disruptive for residents in a nearby four-storey apartment building just 10 meters away. The two tennis courts, converted in 2019 to include three dedicated pickleball courts and one multi-purpose court, are also situated close to several apartment complexes and single-family homes.
Lack of Planning and Noise Challenges
Donald Johnston, president of Pickleball Nova Scotia, expressed little surprise over the closure. He believes the location was not ideal for pickleball courts and highlighted the lack of research into the noise implications before the courts were constructed.
Johnston noted that the organization was not consulted about the decision, and if they had been, they likely would have recommended a different site.
“There was a big demand for pickleball; HRM heard the request and did it without a whole lot of research into the noise aspects of pickleball.” – (Johnston)
“From a Pickleball Nova Scotia standpoint, we weren’t involved in the decision-making process to put the courts there. And if we were involved, we probably wouldn’t have recommended it.” – (Johnston)
“As an association and as pickleball players, we’re very, very aware that these facilities need to be put in the proper setting and are not causing problems for local residents.” – (Johnston)
Pickleball, one of North America’s fastest-growing sports, generates noise levels around 70 decibels within 100 feet of the courts—equivalent to highway traffic. By comparison, tennis courts typically produce around 40 decibels.
Efforts to Reduce the Noise
In an attempt to mitigate the sound, Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) reduced the court hours in 2023 to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, despite the park being open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, noise complaints persisted, with players often using the courts as early as 6 a.m.
“Some of the players just completely disregarded that. That was part of the problem, some people were disrespectful to the rules.” – (Johnston)
The municipality also locked the gates after hours and implemented rules requiring players to use quieter foam balls. While foam balls reduce noise, Johnston explained they also alter the gameplay experience for serious players.
“The foam balls are OK. They definitely diminish the amount of noise but it’s not the same game.” – (Johnston)
“Pickleball hasn’t come up with an answer for the noise. There are noise dampening things you can put on paddles and there’s the foam balls. But avid pickleball players or higher-end pickleball players don’t want to play with them because it’s not the same experience.” – (Johnston)
Noise Issues in Other Cities
Halifax is not alone in dealing with pickleball noise concerns. Other municipalities, including Victoria, B.C., and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, have faced similar complaints, with some even resulting in legal actions or court closures.
“It really comes down to a lack of proper planning.” – (Johnston)
According to Johnston, the rise in noise complaints across Canada and the U.S. reflects poor planning and the need for better location choices for pickleball courts.
“In the last two, three years, there have been places in Canada and in the U.S. that have had issues with the noise complaints, basically the same thing here. The standard now is (courts) need to be at least 200 feet-plus away from residences.” – (Johnston)
Future of Pickleball Courts in Halifax
The Castle Hill Park courts will be converted back to tennis courts, and HRM is reviewing alternative sites for new pickleball courts. The city is considering soundproofing measures for future courts, with potential funding included in the 2025-26 budget.
Currently, HRM has 37 other outdoor pickleball courts, and potential new locations, including Mainland Common, are under discussion.
Johnston emphasized that Pickleball Nova Scotia is eager to be involved in the planning process to ensure that future pickleball courts are properly located to avoid noise conflicts with nearby residents.
“Pickleball Nova Scotia wants to be involved in the process with HRM.” – (Johnston)
“I’ve been in touch with people on the planning committee and the rec department. They have developed guidelines as to where courts can be placed so they’re going to be more aware of that going forward.” – (Johnston)
“It’s not going to be a quick fix though. You’re not, all of sudden, going to get those four courts back.” – (Johnston)
Construction of new courts is expensive, and Johnston noted that courts in Pictou County cost approximately $50,000 each. He stressed the importance of thoughtful planning to avoid costly mistakes.
“The Little Harbour and River John courts were $50,000 per court. It’s not cheap to build them. That’s why you want to make sure they’re put in the right spot. You don’t want to spend this money and then turn around and have it shut down.” – (Johnston)
Exploring Alternative Locations
Johnston also advocated for repurposing underutilized tennis and basketball courts in the municipality for pickleball, which would be a more cost-effective solution to accommodate the sport’s rapid growth.
“The sport is growing so fast, but we don’t have the means to build an Atlantic Tennis Centre type of facility. That takes some pretty deep pockets to get into something like that.” – (Johnston)
“We’re very flexible. We are happy to have a pickleball court put on a tennis court, just have pickleball lines painted on them and we’re good to go.” – (Johnston)
News in Brief: Halifax Pickleball Courts
The closure of pickleball courts at Castle Hill Park in Halifax follows noise complaints from nearby residents. The municipality will review new court locations, with the potential for soundproofing measures. Pickleball Nova Scotia urges involvement in planning to ensure courts are properly placed in the future.
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