The Parkside at Boca Trail Pickleball Lawsuit began in May 2025, when two homeowners from the Parkside at Boca Trail community in Boca Raton, Florida, filed a legal complaint. The lawsuit raises concerns about pickleball noise and claims that the community’s board violated its own rules by converting tennis courts into pickleball courts without proper approval.
The homeowners, who live less than 75 feet from the courts, say the constant popping sound of the game, loud music, and player noise have disrupted their peace. They are asking Palm Beach County Circuit Court to temporarily ban pickleball at the courts and consider further changes, including returning to tennis, soundproofing, or financial damages.
Noise Concerns Lead to Legal Action
According to the lawsuit, the board of directors began discussing court conversions in 2021 but failed to notify homeowners about the impact. The complaint states that “the board began discussing converting some of the tennis courts to pickleball courts in 2021, but it failed to investigate the impact to the surrounding homes and notify owners of the potential downside to pickleball’s associated noise.”
The plaintiffs also say there was no vote from the homeowners or proper approval by the board to change the courts. After pickleball was introduced, they immediately noticed “the constant loud popping and the ‘change in atmosphere surrounding pickleball play as players use loud music and are far more vocal than tennis players.’”
Actions by the Association
The lawsuit explains that the Parkside at Boca Trail Community Association formed a pickleball committee and carried out a sound study. It found the noise exceeded Boca Raton’s legal sound levels. The complaint reports that “normal pickleball play generates an average of 15 hits per minute, which amounts to 900 pops per hour emanating from each of the community’s three courts.”
Despite these findings, the complaint says the association was slow to act. It later set rules limiting play to 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and banned play on Sundays. It also recommended the use of quieter paddles but did not enforce it.
Homeowners claim “despite these restrictions, members do not respect the new rules. Sunday play continues, there is no respect for the time restrictions, and quieter paddles are not used (not that the quieter paddles are effective at reducing the nuisance).”
They added that written requests and demands made during board meetings have not worked. They now report experiencing both mental and physical stress due to the ongoing noise.
The Bigger Picture
The lawsuit reflects a wider trend across the U.S., where noise from pickleball courts is causing friction in many housing communities. With the game’s rising popularity, more disputes like this one have surfaced.
Experts believe that future court construction should consider distance from homes, designated playing hours, and sound-reducing features like special walls or fencing.
Community leaders are urged to involve homeowners early in discussions about pickleball facilities. Clear communication and planning may prevent legal challenges and preserve peace among neighbors.
News in Brief: Parkside at Boca Trail Pickleball Lawsuit
Two Boca Raton homeowners are suing the Parkside at Boca Trail Community Association over noise from nearby pickleball courts. They claim the courts were created without proper approval and now cause stress and disruption. The lawsuit asks for a temporary ban and other relief to reduce the impact.
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