Hingham’s Pickleball Future at Stake: Residents of Hingham will soon decide whether to approve $1.9 million in funding, including $760,000 from Community Preservation Act funds, for 12 new pickleball courts near Carlson Field. The project includes noise mitigation efforts, but nearby homeowners remain concerned about the potential noise impact.
A public meeting hosted by the Recreation Commission was held via Zoom to discuss a noise study conducted for the site. About 40 people attended, raising questions about how the courts might affect their daily lives.
Noise Study Results and Concerns from Residents
Noise control engineer Michael Bahtiarian, who conducted the study, explained that pickleball sounds would be audible outdoors but not indoors if windows are closed. The study also noted that Hingham’s noise bylaw does not set specific noise limits, making it difficult to determine if the courts would violate any regulations.
Rob Mastroianni, who has experience handling pickleball noise issues in Falmouth in 2020, voiced concerns on behalf of affected neighbors.
“We fought the problem, but it took a toll on the community, divided longtime friendships, and was difficult for everybody.” – (Rob Mastroianni)
Mastroianni, who works with Pickleball Noise Relief, a group dedicated to helping communities address noise complaints, argued that the study does not fully consider the repetitive and high-pitched nature of pickleball noise.
“People can talk about decibels all day long, but it’s not about the decibels but the number of pops [people hear from pickleball]. If you can hear them, then it’s a problem. Let’s slow the train, which doesn’t mean nothing will happen there.” – (Rob Mastroianni)
Bahtiarian requested that Mastroianni submit his concerns in writing so they could be addressed in detail after the meeting.
Debate Over Court Placement and Community Impact
The meeting lasted 2.5 hours, with participants frequently speaking over one another. Recreation Commission Chair Vicki Donlan assured residents that there was no time limit so that everyone could share their thoughts.
Bill Crean expressed frustration that neighbors were not informed earlier about the project.
“It was mentioned earlier that noise concerns would be non-existent, but neighbors pushed for a noise study that reports that at every location the noise from pickleball will be audible and to close our windows if we don’t want to hear the noise.” – (Bill Crean)
Meanwhile, Mike Moonan of CHA Consulting, who helped evaluate potential locations, noted that USA Pickleball recommends courts be at least 250 feet from homes, with noise mitigation in place. He explained that the nearest home is nearly 800 feet away from the proposed site, well beyond that guideline.
Calls for More Time and Better Solutions
Mastroianni urged officials to slow down the process to find a solution that works for everyone.
“there is a fix here, but we need more time to avoid litigation and angry neighbors. This is like a success story in the making if we make it one.” – (Rob Mastroianni)
Donlan, who has worked on the project for five years, assured residents that their concerns had been heard. She also apologized for not notifying nearby neighborhoods sooner, stating that officials did not anticipate concerns with the courts being nearly 800 feet away from homes.
Resident Hillary Tutko raised concerns about the frequency of noise, estimating that residents could hear up to 130,000 pickleball “pops” a day over an 8-to-12-hour period.
“We are going to hear a potential 130,000 pops a day over an 8- to 12-hour period.” – (Hillary Tutko)
However, Hingham Pickleball Ambassador Liza O’Reilly defended the proposal, stating that many local players must travel to other towns due to a lack of dedicated courts in Hingham.
“Pickleball has brought so much joy to players in this community.” – (Liza O’Reilly)
Crean emphasized that neighbors aren’t against the courts but want the best possible noise mitigation measures included.
“never said don’t put the courts here. We just want to be sure the best possible mitigation is [part of the proposal].” – (Bill Crean)
What Happens Next?
The final decision will be made at Hingham’s Town Meeting on April 28 (and April 29 if needed). The funding must be approved before construction can begin.
The project also requires permits, an environmental site assessment, and approval from the Conservation Commission. Donlan noted that without full funding approval, the courts will not be built.
In the meantime, Crean and others plan to research the best noise mitigation strategies to create a balanced solution for players and residents.
News in Brief: Hingham’s Pickleball Future at Stake
Hingham residents debated a proposed 12-court pickleball project near Carlson Field during a 2.5-hour public meeting about noise concerns. A study found that pickleball noise would be audible outside but not inside with windows closed. The $1.9 million project will be decided at Town Meeting on April 28.
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