Resident, concerned with noise, asks Gilford Selectboard to restrict pickleball hours

GILFORD — The new pickleball courts have been a hit, attracting large crowds to the Arthur A. Tilton Ice Rink on Varney Point Road. But not everyone is excited about the improvements.

Wildwood Road resident Lynne Moscone told the selectboard on Wednesday the sound of the players cheering, as well as the “pinging” noise of the balls hitting the paddles, has been affecting her sleep and mental health.

Moscone requested the board do something about it, and after a lengthy discussion, the selectboard unanimously voted to light the court from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. only, pending a public hearing.

Town Administrator Scott Dunn told the board the pickleball courts are up and running, and looking great, but some issues came to his attention. One was insufficient lighting, and while there is no money to address this currently, he asked Parks and Recreation Director Matt Mansur to look into it for next year’s budget.

A couple other requests from players were for dividers and screening, which, like the lighting, could be addressed in the future, but not immediately. Dunn also said he was unsure the town should fund these, but deferred to the selectboard to provide Mansur direction.

Dunn also said there were reports of bicycles and rollerblading in the courts, and they voted 3-0 to prohibit them. Signs will be installed reading “police take notice.”

The discussion moved to sound complaints, and while there has only been one of note, Moscone had spoken to Mansur, and written a letter to the town before she came to the board. Dunn said the town has a noise meter that has been used in the past, and the planning department will go to her residence on Wildwood.

“We know that there’s a very active pickleball group from 8 to 10, Monday through Friday, and that’s probably the busiest time at the rink, when all five courts are going,” Dunn said. “At some point during that timeframe, we will take some noise measurements in the vicinity of this property.”

Moscone said she lives right across from the courts, and while she supports recreation, she's felt the impact. She said the sound is not occasional, but rather a “repetitive, high-pitched, slapping of the ball.”

“Over and over again, often for hours at a time, but most often all day long, from early morning into the evening, waking me up early in the morning,” Moscone said. “I have sleep apnea, I don’t sleep well, so sometimes I make that up in the morning. However, I am woken up to the 'pop, pop' of the pickleball sound.”

It doesn’t matter whether she has a fan on, or if she closes her windows, she can’t escape the sound of the high-pitched popping, she said. Her bedroom is on the top floor, where it picks up most of the noise, but she can hear it all through her home. She also hears players yelling and cheering, loud conversations, and sneakers squeaking. The metal gated door also slams shut, she said.

“The impact on my daily life has been significant,” Moscone said. “It has disrupted my sleep, increased my stress, made it difficult to enjoy the peace and comfort that every homeowner expects. There are many days when I leave my property just to find peace and quiet elsewhere.”

She said no homeowner should need to leave their home just to escape the noise from recreation across the street. Moscone said it isn’t a simple inconvenience.

Moscone invested in her home about 30 years ago, with the expectation that when she was retired, she would have a quiet environment. She never imagined a sporting event, like pickleball, directly across from where she lives.

“I respectfully ask the board to recognize that while recreation is important, it should not come at the expense of health, wellbeing and property rights of me,” Moscone said.

She said she hasn’t had a chance to canvas the nearby residents, but there is only one other house that is close, and it is vacant. She suggested noise-reducing barriers, and asked if hours of operation could be limited, perhaps starting at 8 a.m., or turning the lights off.

Moscone brought in photographs of the parking area, saying there are often more than 20 vehicles there at any time.

Moscone said she called the police about how it was disrupting her sleep, but Dunn said there isn’t much they can do. She stressed something needs to be done, and reiterated turning lights off at 8 p.m., rather than 10 p.m.

Chair Chan Eddy didn’t see that as unreasonable, and wanted to hear the results of the noise meter. He also asked about when people start showing up, and Dunn said there is a large group of 50 people that comes for tournaments at 8 a.m., but likely show up earlier.

“And they’re very loud,” Moscone said.

Eddy said limiting the number of people at the court, and the timing, is unenforceable without an attendant.

Vice Chair Gus Benavides said he appreciated Moscone coming to the meeting and sharing concerns, but she bought her home 30 years ago, and the hockey rink and town beach, as well as the parking lot, predated that. She said sometimes she can hear hockey, but it wasn’t nearly as detrimental.

“I want you to understand that we are trying to balance the needs of our resident — you — and the needs of the other residents who are using that pickleball court,” Benavides said.

He said taxpayers voted for the project. Benavides also wanted to make clear none of this was done in secrecy, and there were years of meetings discussing improvements at the rink. Moscone said she knew nothing about them.

Benavides said they have learned as a board to make the most informed decision possible.

“It is something that, let’s face it, we did overlook,” Eddy said.

The board will hold a public hearing at their meeting Wednesday, Aug. 12, regarding noise at the pickleball courts.