BLUE FOLDER ITEM
Blue folder items are additional back up material to administrative reports and/or public comments received after the printing and distribution of the agenda packet for receive and file.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 12, 2025
N.1 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE INSTALLATION OF PICKLEBALL COURTS
AT ALTA VISTA PARK AND APPROVAL OF A CEQA EXEMPTION DECLARATION FOR
THE PROJECT
CONTACT: ELIZABETH HAUSE, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
MARC WIENER, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
• PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
You don't often get email from Learn why this is important From: Robert Brown
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2025 1:10 PM
To: Eleanor Manzano <[email protected]>
Subject: Blue Folder Item for Aug 12 City Council Meeting--Pickle Ball Noise Solution for Alta Vista Tennis Court
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.
Hello Ms Manzano
Would it be possible to add this email and attachment to the Blue Folder of the Aug 12 City Council meeting?
Thank you
Bob Brown
Begin forwarded message:
From: Robert Brown
Subject: Pickle Ball Noise Solution for Alta Vista Tennis Court Date: August 11, 2025 at 1:02:21 PM PDT
To: Bobby Brown
Cc: [email protected], Brad Waller <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Dear Mayor Light and Redondo Beach City Council Members My name is Bob Brown and I am a resident across from Alta Vista Tennis Courts on S Juanita Ave. Before the Tuesday City Council meeting on Aug 12 I would like to propose a plan to reduce the high pitched pickle ball noise that will be a constant annoyance to those of us living on S Juanita. I have read the noise test that the city has done with York Engineering and I will point out the major flaws in that study at the meeting but there is a solution.
Please consider some sound mitigation and I’m sure that will be acceptable to the residents. Attached is a company that has done this with success in other communities.
The product is sound absorbing material that can be attached to chain link fencing. If the city can wrap the court on three sides, front back and the side nearest the homes at the height of the current fencing the tennis court which is further from the residences will be blocked from view. There is about a 25 ft section in the middle of the courts that currently has netting that either will need additional netting or more chain link fencing to support the sound absorbing material at the proper height. Have the staff do more research but I’m sure this will work if done properly.
You should also know that I am a regular pickleball player that currently drives 20 minutes to Palos Verdes to play. How great it would be for me to be able to walk across the street to do the same. As a player I don’t mind the sound but I know what is and I know how loud it can get when playing hard. It’s just not what you want to hear 12 hrs a day 7 days a week. As busy as the courts are in the beach cities that’s exactly what we will be looking forward to.
Thank you for your consideration of my solution.
Bob Brown
Pickleball Court Reduced Noise
Green AcoustiFence®
Installed at the New
Poinsettia Park Pickleball
Courts
CARLSBAD, CA. – The City of Carlsbad had a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the expanded facilities at Poinsettia Community Park.
The new facilities include pickleball courts that have been lined with our Green AcoustiFence® product to reduce the noise coming from all of the pickleball paddles.
813-980-1400 Call Us! | [email protected]
Industries Products Noises & Solutions Project Examples Info & Media Contact Us SEE SOUND HERE!
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
Play (Pic
at Poinse
City of Carlsbad
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Great turn out at Thursday's ribbon cutting ceremony at Poinsettia Community Park! Get out there and enjoy these AcoustiFence® & Its Effect on the Noise
of Pickleball Courts
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
Pickleball Noise Reduction with Acoustifence
YUMA, Ariz. – Acoustifence
soundproofing material placed around a
pickleball court reduced noise by 10-12
decibels in a sound meter test
conducted by USA Pickleball
Association president Bill Booth on
April 17 at the Country Roads RV
Village pickleball courts in Yuma, Ariz.
This represents more than a 50 percent
reduction in sound as perceived by the
human ear the report concludes.
Even as one of the fastest-growing
sports in the United States continues to
gain new participants and fans every
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
day, pickleball is disturbing some
neighbors and communities who don’t
want the courts around because paddle
noise has become a nuisance issue for
some people living close to the courts.
In addition to being one of the fastestgrowing sports in the United States today, pickleball has spread overseas
into Canada, Singapore, India, Pakistan
and other places. According to the USA
Pickleball Association, the sport boasts
an estimated 100,000 adult players in
the United States now, more than triple
the number in 2003. There are about
2,500 public courts, versus just 150 in
2003.
For decades, the game of pickleball
was little known outside the Pacific
Northwest United States. Since its
inception in 1965 as a backyard
pastime, it is now an organized sport
represented by national and
international governing bodies. While
people ages 6 to 70-plus play pickleball
and even compete in local, regional
and national tournaments, the main
driver of the recent growth is the 55-
plus demographic who have taken a
liking to the sport. They view it as a way
to exercise, burn calories, socialize,
and get outdoors. More and more
Pickleball Court Reduced
Noise
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
pickleball courts are being built in
community parks and especially into
55-plus housing developments. Some
communities are converting
sporadically used tennis courts into
pickleball courts or painting additional
lines on tennis courts so pickleball can
also be played. Pickleball is played on
a smaller court size than tennis but has
a similar court design.
More courts, participants, tournaments,
and attention to the game has brought
on more public complaints and even
noise or nuisance related lawsuits
attempting to stop play on existing
courts or stop construction of new
courts.
Racket and paddle sports like tennis,
badminton, and table tennis (ping pong)
each produce a unique sound when the
racket or paddle hits the ball. In
pickleball, there is a “ping, ping” sound
made when the paddle hits the ball
because the sport uses medium-sized,
solid faced wooden, composite or
graphite paddles and a hard plastic
perforated ball (resembles a Wiffle ball)
that is larger, stiffer and less resistant
than a tennis ball. The noise generated
by the game is louder, sharper and at a
higher pitch than tennis which
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
generates a deeper “thwack” sound
that registers far lower on a sound
meter.
Pickleball paddle noise is in a sound classification called impact noise – noise that occurs when an object collides with another object. It is a high frequency noise that is at a frequency that our ears are most attuned to. Through Acoustiblok’s analysis and modeling efforts of various pickleball noise related projects, the company says there’s one limiting band of approximately 1.25 Khz (1250 hz) that spikes when the paddle hits the ball. Acoustifence blocks much of the noise and reduces it to below a nuisance level for nearby neighbors, becoming barely perceptible among other outdoor background noises such as automobile, airplane, human, and machine noise.You can hear the pickleball paddle noise for yourself by watching the following YouTube video of a tournament match at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdVMcIDQJlA [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdVMcIDQJlA __title__ USA Pickleball Association nationals competition]
Unlike often tried natural sound barriers such as fences or shrubs, the Acoustifence material does extraordinarily well in not only blocking direct sound, but also has a tendency to reduce sound from reflecting off it.
Acoustifence is a revolutionary heavy mineral filled viscoelastic polymer sound deadening material which is only 3mm (1/8 inch) thick. It’s made in the United States and compared to other soundproofing alternatives, is an economical way to reduce outdoor noise.
The ultraviolet (UV) tolerant Acoustifence is hung via grommets onto the top line of existing chain link, panel, security or support pole fencing systems. It comes in 6 X 30 foot-sheets and can be easily cut and shaped into custom sizes with a craft knife. On solid structure fence surfaces, Acoustifence can be installed by nailing, stapling or gluing. Acoustifence is one of the most effective first steps in reducing outdoor noise. The amount of noise Acoustifence reduces however is much related to other reflective structures in the area. More https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
details on Acoustifence can be seen at:
https://acoustiblok.com/acoustical_fence.php
Country Roads RV Resort is a 55-plus gated community which boasts 150 acres of lavish, mature landscaping and 1294 privately owned home sites. The Acoustifence testing was conducted by USA Pickleball Association president Bill Booth. Tests were made using a Super Scientific Digital Data logging Sound Meter (model 840013), a S-Type Composite Extreme Paddle, and New Dura Fast 40 outdoor balls. Tests were made with the tester attempting to hit the ball with maximum force for a worse-case scenario. A series of readings were taken both through the Acoustifence sound curtain and with no sound curtain.
Readings were recorded with the meter at 50 feet from the point of impact. In the first case, the reading was even taken through the sound curtain next to a nearby home at a point 42 feet from the sound curtain. The paddle was 8 feet inside the court for a total of 50 feet. The second set of readings was recorded inside the court at a distance of 50 feet from the point of impact.
With no sound curtain, readings ranged from 64.2 – 71.8 decibels for an average of 68 decibels. Through the Acoustifence sound curtain, the meter readings were between 54.7 – 59.2 decibels for an average reading of 56.7 decibels. The report concluded that an 11.3 decibel reduction in sound was achieved. This represents more than a 50 percent reduction in sound as perceived by the human ear by nearby homeowners. That reduction in sound takes the pickleball noise from being annoying to someone to being just barely perceptible, the report conclusion stated. The report also recommended that the Acoustifence product be installed on the inside of the pickleball court if the fence posts are outside the court. The report went on to say that homeowners near the Country Roads RV Village pickleball courts who had the most complaints and lived closest to the courts reported a significant reduction in sound level from having the Acoustifence material up. He said that his wife often does not realize that they are playing on the court. At times, ambient noise significantly exceeded paddle noise.
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
Lahnie Johnson is president and founder of Acoustiblok, Inc., a NASA spinoff listed company in Tampa, Fla., that invented and manufactures the Acoustifence product.
“Acoustifence serves as a barrier and blocks high frequency sounds very well.
The material actually flexes with certain frequencies. In the process of sound waves physically moving it, the product transforms sound wave energy into inaudible internal friction energy. It is Underwriters Laboratories listed and in independent laboratory tests has attained an STC (Sound Transmission Class) of 27 or 30, depending on the model.” said Johnson.
“Like all our products, Acoustifence is made in the USA with all USA materials.
Besides the primary benefit of reduction in perceived noise levels, there are many reasons why Acoustifence is being used not only in the United States, but across the globe for many applications,” he said.
“There are many reasons why Acoustifence is a good solution for pickleball noise. For homeowner associations and developers, Acoustifence easily attaches to existing fencing found around most existing pickleball courts and complexes and can be put up in a matter of hours with a few minor hand tools.
It is easily configurable to add height and length so it can be used on fences of any size. The material is paintable to meet the needs of the environment,” said Johnson.
“There are vinyl photographic coverings for the fence called Acoustiblok landscapes. Hundreds of different unbelievably realistic landscapes are available, from vines and flowers to even antique brick wall, or stone fence photographs. So real one of our customers drove right by their home forgetting they had it installed,” he added.
“Acoustifence is also one of the best priced first response soundproofing solutions in the industry,” Johnson added.
Melissa Wood is community association manager at Country Roads RV Village. https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
In a related World Fence News article about pickleball and Acoustifence, she said, “I can attest that Acoustifence material is not difficult to install, can be easily blended into the aesthetics, particularly if you have existing wind screens.” She added that Country Roads RV Village is located near Phoenix and other communities have seen the installation and have inquired about it.
Besides pickleball, Acoustifence is commonly used to quiet generator and motor noise at industrial sites, highway and construction related noise on bridges, mass transit rail line noise, shooting/gun range noise, and even dog kennel noise. It is also being used at college sports complexes and athletic parks and on private backyard residential fences to create a quieter and more peaceful environment.
“People are discovering that there are a lot of great uses for this modern day soundproofing product,” Johnson said.
Johnson went on to say, “We’re not just a soundproofing products company, we’re a noise solutions company. Sometimes, prior to the sale of Acoustiblok’s products, we perform computer-based sound propagation modeling when customers are unsure if Acoustiblok’s materials will work in their specific application.
“We use advanced software called Cadna-A, a top acoustical software made by DataKustic used in the prediction of environmental outdoor noise. It calculates sounds through mediums and different barriers and terrains. We have used it for pickleball-related customers who all have a different set of circumstances associated with their noise. We also use DataKustic’s Cadna-R software for prediction and presentation of inside noise in industrial facilities, rooms and workplaces.”
“We use this acoustical modeling to say to the potential customer ‘here’s your noise level now without Acoustiblok’s material and here’s the noise level with our material based on the noise information we have available to us right now.’” https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
AcoustiFence® Pickleball Court Noise
Reduction Project
Pickleball Noise Problem Solved –
Country Roads RV Property Owners
Association, Inc. recently purchased
and installed Acoustifence® on the
Pickleball court within our community.
Since being installed only a few years
ago, The Pickleball court has been
considered a nuisance by some of the
nearby residents because of the sound
that the paddle makes when hitting the
ball. Pickleball is a mixture of
badminton and tennis, however the ball
is a large type of wiffle-ball.
The Board of Directors saw the need to
keep the game because of its growing
popularity and abate the noise for the
neighboring homes. In researching on
the Internet, a Board member found the
website for Acoustiblok, Inc. After much
research the Board of Directors voted
unanimously to purchase and install the
Acoustifence. Upon installation the
neighboring homes noticed a Pickleball Anyone?
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
considerable reduction of the repetitive
ball play.
With our close proximity to Phoenix,
Arizona, other communities have asked
to see and test for themselves the
Acoustifence product. I have attached
to our testimony the correspondence
from Bill Booth, President of The USA
Pickleball Association.™
I can attest that Acoustifence material
is not difficult to install, can be easily
blended into the aesthetics particularly
if you have existing wind screens and
does abate any noise pollution.
Feel free to contact me personally if
you have any questions about our
Community’s experience.
Sincerely,
Melissa Wood, CAAM®
Community Association Manager
Homeowner Report:
The homeowner with the most
complaints and living closest to the
courts reports a significant reduction in
sound level. He said that his wife often
does not realize that they are playing
on that court. The homeowner was very
Pickleball Noise
Problem Solved – With
an average reduction of
11.8 decibels, it is likely
that the Acoustifence
will result in at least a
50% reduction to the
sound experienced by
nearby homeowners.
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
on that court. The homeowner was very
friendly, assisted with the test and
monitored the results.
The homeowner had a theory that the
sound would be louder at his home if
the hits were not so close to the sound
curtain. Therefore, we made several
hits at the other end of the court, 90
feet from the home. His theory did not
prove correct with an average reading
of 52.8db. Ambient sound levels were
in the range of 47-51db if we waited for
quiet periods when there was no
aircraft noise, traffic noise or voices. At
other times, ambient noise significantly
exceeded paddle noise. We have the
homeowner’s contact information if
necessary.
Do you have a similar need? Contact
us today!
Pickleball Information & Its Noise Impact
on Communities
Pickleball Paddle Noise Concerns –
Picklers can now be found in most
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
states across America. Picklers have
even made their way across the border
to Canada, Singapore, and India.
Pickler fever, like Bieber fever, has
gone viral and mainstream. So don’t be
offended if someone asks you to “get
your pickle on” sometime because if
you haven’t heard about the sport of
pickleball by now, you probably will
soon. The sport has officially arrived in
the United States and may be coming
to a neighborhood near you.Pickleball
is one of the fastest-growing sporting
craves in America and has even begun
to spread overseas. While pickleball is
an inter-generational sport for players
ranging in age from 6 to 70-plus, it’s the
55-plus year-old demographic that is
driving the recent fast-rising popularity
of the sport.
Some describe pickleball as a dwarf
version of tennis. Others describe it as
an over-grown version of ping pong
(table tennis). It’s played like tennis and
scored like badminton. Regardless of
what you think it is, the pickleball
phenomenon has taken hold.
For decades, the game was little known
outside the Pacific Northwest United
States. Since its inception in 1965 as a
backyard pastime, Pickleball has seen
Pickleball Paddle Noise
Concerns
KEY POINTS OF ARTICLE
Pickleball is one of the fastestgrowing sporting craves in America. Boasting an estimated
100,000 adult players in the U.S.
now, more than triple the number
in 2003. There are about 2,500
public courts, versus just 150
courts in 2003. Courts are full.
The 55-plus demographic is
driving the growth.
Some people living close to courts
claim it is a noisy sport and is a
nuisance. A sharp “pop” sound is
made when the paddle hits the
hard plastic ball. On a sound
meter, this noise registers about
64.2-71.8 decibels. The sound is
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
significant growth in the United States
over the past decade. It is now an
organized sport represented by national
and international governing bodies.
According to the USA Pickleball
Association, the sport boasts an
estimated 100,000 adult players in the
United States now, more than triple the
number in 2003, and there are about
2,500 public courts, versus just 150 that
year.
Pickleball has seen an explosion of sort
in Florida, especially in Central Florida,
which is considered by many to be the
pickleball capital of the world now. The
Villages, a popular retirement
community located near Orlando
Florida, hosts more than 108 courts
alone.
More and more pickleball courts are
being built in new 55-plus communities
and are being added to existing
communities all over the United States
and in other countries too. Del Webb,
the United States’ largest builder of
active-adult communities, had pickleball
courts in fewer than one in five of its
developments in 2006. Now, says
Jacque Petroulakis, spokeswoman for
parent company Pulte Group Inc., the
figure is above 50 percent, and Del
Webb incorporates pickleball into
louder than the softer “thwack”
sound made in tennis.
Acoustiblok’s Acoustifence
soundproofing material placed
around a pickleball court can
reduce noise by 10-12 decibels
according to a sound meter test
conducted by USA Pickleball
Association president Bill Booth.
This represents a 50 percent
reduction in sound as perceived
by the human ear.
Some lawsuits have been filed to
stop new courts from being built.
Some neighborhood associations
are receiving increasingly more
complaints.
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
almost everything it builds. “It’s the
hottest craze sweeping our
communities,” she says.
Pickleball has spread across the United
States and into Canada. It is now
beginning to spread around the world.
The United States Pickleball
Association estimates there are more
than 100,000 active picklers. In
Canada, where the game is still
relatively new, there are already more
than 5,000 players in just four
provinces: British Columbia, Alberta,
Quebec, and Ontario. Meanwhile new
organizations like the Singapore
Pickleball Association and the All India
Pickleball Association are bringing the
game to Asia and beyond.
For pickleball players, the sport is a
way to exercise, burn calories, be
social, and get outdoors. The sport is
easy to learn, even for those without
much athletic experience. For all of
these reasons, players find pickleball
addictive, with demand for court time
often exceeding available space. And in
case you were wondering exactly what
the term “pickler” means. According to
the World Pickleball Federation (yes
there is one), a pickler is a certified
pickleball player who may or may not
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
become addicted in the next 10
minutes or less. The sport with a
whimsical name also has some
whimsical terms and definitions. While
many picklers play the game for fun,
many play it competitively in regional,
national and international singles and
doubles tournaments.According to the
website of the USA Pickleball
Association, which officially took over
the sport in 2005, pickleball is played
on a badminton-size court with the net
lowered to 34 inches at the center. It is
played with a perforated plastic
baseball (similar to a Wiffle Ball) and
solid wooden, composite, graphite or
aluminum paddles that resemble large
table tennis paddles. The game was
invented by a man in Washington state
in 1965, and is named after his dog
Pickles who used to chase balls all over
a court.
The “Racket” of the Pickleball
Paddle – Ping, Pop, Thwack
As picklers get excited about their
smashes, rallies, put-aways, serves,
and volleys on the court, some
residents off the court living within
earshot are crying foul. Even as
momentum for the sport builds, the
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
game has left a trail of detractors and
spawned studies to determine if the
sport meets noise regulations. When
the pickleball paddle hits the hard
plastic ball it makes a unique “pop” or
“ping” sound that is louder and sharper
to the ear and registers 3-5 decibels
higher on a sound meter than the
“thwack” heard when a tennis
racket hits the softer tennis ball.
Regulation games are played to 11
points (a team must win by two points).
Some local games are played to 15
points so the ball may strike the
paddles hundreds of times in a
game.This constant hard sharp sound
can be bothersome to some residents
living near the courts if the sound is not
blocked by natural barriers of some
type or by acoustical material hung on
the fence that surrounds the court.
You can hear the sound for yourself by
watching the YouTube video of a
tournament match.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=pdVMcIDQJlA
While the sport of pickleball is growing
with new fans every day, it’s also
faulting with some neighbors and
communities who don’t want pickleball
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
courts in their area because of the
unwanted sounds and continuous
racket/noise. In some communities, the
divisions have prompted heated
meetings among property owners, calls
for noise studies and even claims that
pickleball is destroying property values.
Increasing Number of Courts Could Lead to More Noise
Issues
Pickleball Racket – According to the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), the number of places to play pickleball nationwide has grown in the past 12 years from just 37 to nearly 1400. In Mission Royale, a 55-plus community in Casa Grande, Ariz., the local pickleball club is trying to secure courts of its own.
Partly in response to noise complaints, the community’s developer, Meritage Homes Corp., recently said it would be willing to spend “significant dollars” to relocate pickleball from a converted tennis court, says Jeff Grobstein, desert region president for Meritage.
Ron Heymann, 65, whose home is about 100 feet from the existing courts, says he won’t be sorry to see pickleball go. The noise from games—that of a “hard plastic ball thunk-thunking repetitively on a hard wooden paddle”—is “akin to a toothache that won’t go away.”
Pickleball players in Mission Royale dispute such claims—for the most part. “There is a constant ‘ping, ping,'” concedes John Grasso, 61, president of the local pickleball club. In March, Mr. Grasso says the club purchased a decibel https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
local pickleball club. In March, Mr. Grasso says the club purchased a decibel meter from RadioShack. The findings: Tennis reached about 58 decibels while pickleball hit about 60. “There really was no difference. It’s just a different sound.”
The difference was enough to evict the sport from its home in SaddleBrooke near Tampa, FL. Residents there first asked pickleball players to switch to a rubber ball to cut back on noise. Pickleball players passed. Many feel like the sound is an integral part of the game and the experience. “Ask golfers to use a different kind of ball, and see what they say,” says John Benter, 69, local pickleball president.
A $4,500 noise study found that sounds from pickleball play were spiking above the county’s 60-decibel limit, which applies to ongoing noise. As a result, the homeowners’ association banned use of standard pickleball paddles and balls on the courts, effectively shutting down play.
Pickleball-Related Lawsuits
Pickleball Paddle Noise Concerns –
Pickleball has also sparked lawsuits
throughout the United States from
people concerned and irritated about
game noise that has intruded into their
homes and personal outdoor spaces.
A November 15, 2012 Rockford
Register Star article states that a
lawsuit filed to stop pickleball from
being played in Sinnissippi Park could
be settled with additional noise control
efforts from the Rockford Park District.
In Winnebago County, Illinois, two
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
people filed a complaint to the
Winnebago County court asking for an
injunction to stop play at the six courts
at the Sinnissippi Pickleball Center. The
complaint said the “pop” the ball makes
as it flies off the paddle sounds “like a
hammer blow on a blacksmith’s anvil”
and “the noise filters into every part of
their property and household.”
An article found on AzCentral.com
website said Otis and Jean Vaughn
thought the active lifestyle and peaceful
setting of Venture Out RV Resort were
the perfect ticket for retirement when
they bought a home in the east Mesa
community. For much of the past two
decades, they played tennis, exercised
at the community pool and traveled. But
the Vaughns said that tranquility ended
when the “pinging and popping” sounds
of pickleball erupted on badminton-size
courts that were built last year about 30
feet from their driveway.
“It’s absolutely deafening,” he said of
the hard-surface paddles striking
perforated plastic balls. The Vaughns’
protest is among a chorus of objections
to noise generated by the game in at
least four Arizona retirement
communities and several other states.
Noise Mitigation Solutions
Pickleball Paddle Noise Concerns
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
Noise Mitigation Solutions
Some of the noise problems for
pickleball are not just because of the
rackets and ball used. There are other
issues. Some pickleball courts were
built too close to homes. Also, most
courts have chain link fencing around
them which doesn’t block any noise.
Some courts have tried using screen
meshing on the chain link fence but it is
porous and does not block noise well.
Other developments have used trees
and landscaping as a way to block
noise during matches. These natural
barriers are seldom effective.
There are other more
modern acoustical solutions to the
pickleball noise that can be used and
are currently being used by pickleball
associations and
builders. Acoustifence is a modern day
acoustical soundproofing product that
just happens to be developed and sold
by the owner of this blog – Tampa, Fla.-
based Acoustiblok, Inc.
Pickleball Paddle Noise Concerns – Acoustifence is an advanced material sound barrier that is placed between a noise source and the noise receiver. The Acoustifence material easily attaches to chain link fences and comes in large sheets and in custom made sizes, making it ideal. In a sound meter test conducted by USA Pickleball Association president Bill Booth on April 17, 2012 at the Country Roads RV Village pickleball courts in Yuma, Arizona, https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
at the Country Roads RV Village pickleball courts in Yuma, Arizona, Acoustifence soundproofing material placed around a pickleball court reduced noise by 10-12 decibels This represents a 50 percent reduction in sound as perceived by the human ear the report concludes.
Let’s Google That Pickle Word
Today, if you Google the word pickleball, it receives about 840,000 results.
Google the word ping pong and you get 74 million results. Google badminton and you get 110 million with volleyball yielding 165 million results. America’s current most popular sport, NFL football yielded 266 million results. So pickleball, while gaining popularity, is still finding its way into the cyber-world compared to other popular recreational activities. Google the word “pickleball noise” and you’ll get 40,300 results, probably much more than the sports governing bodies feels good about.
Despite a few small bumps in the road, pickleball is finding its way into the hearts of many.
Since publishing, these numbers have changed dramatically. Google “Pickleball” now and you will receive 51,900,000 results. Google “Pickleball Noise” and you will receive 2,860,000 results.
_______________________
Pickleball Links
United States of America Pickleball Association
http://www.usapa.org/
International Federation of Pickleball
http://ipickleball.org/
Pickleball Basics
• Pickleball is a fun game played on a badminton court with the net lowered at https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
• Pickleball is a fun game played on a badminton court with the net lowered at 34 inches on center. It is played with a perforated plastic baseball, similar to a wiffle ball, and wood or composite paddles. It is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced competitive game for experienced players. • There are usually four players – two each side on a team – playing over a net slightly lower than in tennis. Singles can play a match also. • In tournaments, a match will usually consist of the best 2 out of 3 games to 11. • Players swing rackets that look like a beefed-up version of a beach paddleball paddle and hit a wiffle ball that’s slightly harder than the play-in-the-streets variety.
• The serve is underhanded and goes diagonally like in tennis, but the ball must bounce once on each side before players are allowed to hit a volley (out of the air). A player serves until he/she side outs then a person on the other team serves.
• Inside ”The Kitchen,” a 7-foot zone on both sides of the net, volleying is not allowed; players have to let the ball bounce once if they’re in that area. • Teams only score when they’re serving, and each player gets a turn before the other side gets a shot.
• There are a few more rules, but the main thing is that pickleball is a blast.
AcoustiFence® Pickleball Project Examples
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
Poinsettia Pa…
Pickleball Noi…
Pickleball Co…
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Acoustical
Real-Time
Video
Imaging
System.
The ARTVIS®
service allows us
to actually “see”
sound in real-time
(as you would
“see” thermal
contours with an
infrared camera).
Not only can we
precisely
measure the
intensity,
frequency content
and the primary
source of the
noise, but also all
the reflections of
that specific
noise. This can
save the client an
incalculable
amount of money
and time as well.
Acoustiblok Engineer Operating
The ARTVIS Service, identifying a
noise source that a sound meter
is incapable of in such an
environment.
Write a
Google
Review!
The ARTVIS® Service
https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
The Acoustical Real-Time Video Imaging System
The ARTVIS® service allows us to actually “see” sound in real-time (as you would “see” thermal contours with an infrared camera). Not only can we precisely measure the intensity, frequency content and the primary source of the noise, but also all the reflections of that specific noise. This can save the client an incalculable amount of money and time as well.
Acoustiblok engineer operating The ARTVIS Service, identifying a noise source that a sound meter is incapable of in such an environment. "Soundproofing" (100% Sound Elimination) is impossible to achieve with Acoustiblok material or any other product. All materials provided herein are for reference only; Acoustiblok reserves the right to modify or revise the content at any time without prior notice.
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https://acoustiblok.com/2013/04/08/pickleball-court-reduced-noise/ 8/10/25, 10:28 PM
From: Mark Nelson (Home Gmail)
To: CityClerk; James Light; Paige Kaluderovic; Brad Waller; Chadwick B. Castle; Scott Behrendt; Zein Obagi Cc: Kevin Cody
Subject: Public Comment - Pickleball Noise - Have the consultant replace pickleball with 2 gun shots an hour at the court location
Date: Friday, August 8, 2025 4:33:03 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.
I don't doubt that the consultant hired for noise on pickleball can do math. However, Leq is a lousy measure of the impacts of an intermittent noise source like pickleball.
The example that I have used at the Coastal Commission, CPUC, FERC and other agencies on noise is as follows:
Leq is a measure of average sound. The measure cannot differentiate between 6 randomly generated gunshots per hour in an otherwise perfectly quiet neighborhood and a constant, unchanging white noise with the same energy "on average" across the same Leq time duration.
Therefore, LMax is a better choice to determine the annoyance and subsequent health impacts from the intermittent noise than is Leq.
Another example is oxygen in a room. Air is roughly 20% oxygen. On average 0% for 30 minutes and 40% for 30 minutes are the same a 20% for 60 minutes. In one case, you're fine.
In the other case, you're dead. On average - they're the same environment, just like Leq.
Ask your consultants to take their dataset and remove the pickle ball, and instead add a double-tap from a 9mm handgun. You'll find the Leq on the gunshots is lower than pickleball on an hourly basis. Leq is deceiving.
That noise from the pickleball will not be imperceptible. That's a euphemism for the modeled outcome across time is unchanged - and that's not how our nervous systems, cardiovascular system and brain perceive sound and the negative health impacts.