Maple Grove Pickleball Noise Controversy: Pickleball has become a source of noise complaints in Maple Grove, Minnesota. On June 18, city officials plan to review the rules after banning the sport at Fish Lake Woods Park due to complaints from nearby residents. The ban followed police calls, petitions, and neighborhood arguments over the sport’s loud popping sounds.
A Game Too Loud for Some
Dan Mutka, who lives near Fish Lake Woods Park, said the sound of pickleball was unbearable.
“I would correlate it to somebody pounding on your roof with a hammer, putting up shingles, day after day after day,”(Dan Mutka).
The city banned the sport at the park this spring. Workers repainted lines and placed signs reading, “PICKLEBALL IS PROHIBITED.” The courts sit only about 70 feet from some homes.
The move upset regular players. A change.org petition was launched to reverse the decision. Police were even called when people continued to play despite the ban.
“I was shocked it was outright banned,” said John Messerly, a neighbor who supports the players. “I know there are lots of people in the neighborhood who use the courts. We needed to make our voices heard.”
Officials Consider Setbacks and New Rules
Maple Grove Parks and Planning Superintendent Ben Jaszewski said the city looked at sound walls and studies but chose to follow advice that courts should be at least 200 feet away from homes. He said noise controls are most helpful within 500 feet.
Now, the Maple Grove Park Board will meet on June 18 to talk about where pickleball courts should be built in the future. The decision may affect how other Minnesota cities plan new courts too.
Why the Noise Bothers Some Residents
Not everyone agrees that pickleball noise is a big problem. Some say it’s no louder than kids playing or basketball bouncing. But the sound of a paddle hitting a plastic ball happens again and again.
“It’s not a continuous noise, like the sound of the furnace in your house. That’s a continuous, background noise that we can get used to,”
said Ryan Skoug, an acoustical engineer at ESI Engineering.
“Pickleball creates what we call a highly impulsive noise. It startles us. It triggers a fight-or-flight reaction in us,”.
Ryan Skoug explained that the sharp crack of the paddle can feel as alarming as the sound of a twig breaking in the woods.
“He listens for that ‘crack’ of a twig or a stick, alerting him someone is getting close to him. It’s that ‘crack’ that we hear that makes it so alerting to us,” he said.(Ryan Skoug)
Basketballs make a lower noise, and while kids may shout, it’s less frequent than the constant paddle hits from a busy pickleball court. Skoug said his company now gets more requests for noise studies related to both outdoor and indoor pickleball courts.
Other Cities Facing Similar Complaints
In Apple Valley, Minnesota, officials also responded to neighborhood noise concerns. Parks and Recreation Director Eric Carlson said the city shut down its pickleball courts at Hayes Park and built new ones elsewhere.
Across the country, cities are trying solutions like noise walls and asking players to use quieter paddles. But the Minnesota League of Cities suggests cities also use setbacks—rules about how far courts should be from homes—because they’re easier to enforce.
Trying to Keep Everyone Happy
Ben Jaszewski said Maple Grove still has plenty of other places to play. The city offers 18 courts at Lakeview Knolls Park and is working to balance the sport’s popularity with peace for nearby neighbors.
Dan Mutka, who now enjoys a quieter yard, said,
“If you’ve never lived next to a pickleball court, you probably wouldn’t understand the depth of the annoyance it creates.”
News in Brief: Maple Grove Pickleball Noise Controversy
Maple Grove, Minnesota, banned pickleball at Fish Lake Woods Park after residents complained about noise. Police were called, players started a petition, and city leaders are now reviewing court placement rules. Experts say the loud, sharp paddle sounds trigger stress for some, while cities search for balanced solutions.
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