Selectboard approves reduced hours for Gilford pickleball courts

GILFORD — The popularity of the newly named Scott J. Dunn Pickleball Courts has also brought issues with noise. After hearing from concerned residents, the selectboard approved a permanent 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. lighting schedule at Wednesday’s meeting.

Wildwood Road resident Lynne Moscone met with the selectboard on July 22, telling them the continuous “pinging” noise of balls hitting paddles has affected her sleep and mental health. She also said the large crowds of people, often showing up early in the morning and staying late at night, are heard cheering loudly from her home. A metal gate opening and shutting is also a noisy culprit.

The selectboard heard those concerns, and made a temporary move to turn the lights off at 8 p.m. rather than 10 p.m., and set a public hearing at the next meeting.

On Wednesday, Moscone came prepared, with a petition signed by more than 50 people who supported her arguments about the excessive sound, and prefer the time change of 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Funded through a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, Moscone acknowledged anyone can use the courts. Moscone thanked the selectboard for making the hours 8 a.m.-8 p.m. between the meetings, and said it is greatly appreciated. She still wakes up hearing pickleball, but it has been a “godsend,” especially at night.

Merrill Fay and his wife, Beth Pataski-Fay, both signed the petition at the meeting, before it was handed to the selectboard. The Varney Point residents and business owners both spoke in support of Moscone and her concerns.

Pataski-Fay was recently at her office, and she was behind the building, and couldn’t figure out the noise she was hearing around 8:30 or 9 a.m. She described it as a “ping, ping” noise, and said it dawned on her it was the pickleball court.

She said one of her employees, who could not attend the meeting, works at the ship store on the corner of Varney Point Road and Route 11. He told the Fays he does a lot of work rigging boats, and was shocked at the loud reverberation of the pickleball court.

Kevin Hayes, former selectboard chair, said he thought courts should be open at 7 a.m., because heavy equipment is able to be run that early. He also thought the courts should be open until 9 p.m., with a sign posted stating so.

“We bill ourselves as the recreation center of the Lakes Region, and pickleball is just one of those recreation items we’ve invested in heavily,” Hayes said. “I think to maximize the use of the courts, but keep within the friendly confines of noise, I believe that the hours of 7 in the morning to 9 at night are respectable, and worth considering.”

Selectboard Chair Chan Eddy read a letter sent by Michael Clement, a full-time resident and administrator of a group coordinating pickleball play at the courts. Through a mobile app, he gauged community interest, and while there wasn’t much feedback, he shared what he had.

Clement wrote that 10 players expressed interest in a 7 a.m. start, and nobody voted for 6 a.m. For night hours, seven players expressed interest in 9 p.m., and two voted for 10 p.m. He recommended 7 a.m.-9 p.m., just as Hayes did, and said it aligns with the town’s noise ordinance.

“Seven a.m. is of interest specifically to players who aren’t retired yet and like to play before work, as well as generally in the hot months as a way to beat the heat,” Clement wrote.

Clement also said some measures have been taken to remediate noise, like barriers installed to dampen the sound, and the bolts of the metal gate have been fixed to stop it from banging.

Fay said he was involved in building the ice rink in Laconia, which is named for him, and there was a hearing where abutters came to talk about any issues. He noted that rink is insulated, so it was easier to stop noise, but he wondered if there were ways to change the ball and paddles so they don’t make as much racket.

“There are efforts underway in the industry to develop a different ball, and different paddles, for noise control,” Town Administrator Scott Dunn said. “It’s in the works.”

Fay said he was hoping for that, after hearing Moscone's concerns. Fay admitted he has never played pickleball, and doesn’t know much about it.

He also suggested having a curtain to absorb sound on three sides. Fay said it might be expensive, and suggested having a donation box.

“I think the people using it ought to be paying something for this curtain if they can do it,” Fay said.

Moscone said she has done some research, and found there are foam pickleballs available to purchase online, which are quieter. Dunn said he can’t envision the town making a rule requiring the usage of a quieter ball, but believes the industry is making moves to catch up.

Dunn said a decibel test was done in the area, and the loudest sound courtside was 70 decibels, and at Moscone’s home the sound reached 50 decibels. Vehicles passing hit 64 decibels, and conversations ranged from 55 to 65 decibels. He said they could definitely hear the sound, but from a measurement standpoint, it was the “equivalent of a casual conversation.”

While no action could be taken on remediation, as Eddy said that requires funding, the board voted 3-0 to make the 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. timeframe permanent.