Pickleball Hours Set at Szymanski Park: The South Burlington City Council convened Monday night, revisiting the ongoing controversy surrounding pickleball at Szymanski Park. The meeting focused on addressing noise complaints from residents and evaluating potential solutions to mitigate the issue. Over the past few months, local neighbors have raised concerns about the racket from pickleball games and increased traffic around the park. The council weighed the option of investing in soundproofing measures, including Acoustiblok, a potential solution costing around $30,000.
Community Response and Petition
Jovanna Guarino, a resident adjacent to the park, spearheaded a petition calling for the removal of the pickleball courts, which has garnered over 70 signatures. Guarino criticized sound mitigation efforts, arguing they are largely ineffective.
“I’ve done my research, and in most places, it’s ineffective. It doesn’t belong in the middle of a residential neighborhood.” – (Guarino)
Council’s Decision on Sound Mitigation
After deliberation, the council opted against investing in sound mitigation at this time. Instead, they implemented new operational hours for the pickleball courts. Effective immediately, the courts will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., a shift from the previous policy where pickleball adhered to the park’s general hours of “sunrise to sunset.”
News in Brief: Pickleball Hours Set at Szymanski Park
At a South Burlington City Council meeting, officials discussed the pickleball noise issue at Szymanski Park. Residents had complained about the noise and traffic, prompting a debate on soundproofing options costing around $30,000.
Jovanna Guarino, who lives nearby, led a petition against the courts, citing the ineffectiveness of sound mitigation. The council decided not to pursue soundproofing but established new hours for the pickleball courts, now open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., replacing the previous “sunrise to sunset” rule.
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