Residents demand action on pickleball noise crisis

Residents near Abbeywood Park have voiced ongoing concerns regarding excessive noise from nearby pickleball courts, despite recent efforts by the park district to address similar issues in other areas. During a recent government meeting, community members expressed frustration over the lack of progress in resolving noise complaints, particularly as a state project related to the issue has fallen behind schedule by nine weeks.

Local residents highlighted that while the park district has made strides in managing pickleball noise in Valley Forge Park and even influenced policy changes in Naperville, those living adjacent to Abbeywood Park have seen no improvements. They pointed out that the park district can no longer cite funding issues as an excuse for inaction, given that the contractor responsible for the delayed project faces significant financial penalties.

Director Garvey of the park district has claimed he lacks the authority to implement necessary changes, a statement that has drawn skepticism from residents who question how he could have made decisions leading to the current situation without the requisite authority. Community members have proposed solutions that have been successfully implemented in other regions, yet they report that their suggestions have gone unacknowledged by the park district.

The discussion also touched on the interpretation of local noise zoning ordinances, which some residents believe have been manipulated to grant the park district a permanent exemption from noise regulations. This interpretation, they argue, undermines the original intent of the ordinances and has led to a significant decline in property values for homes near the courts.

Residents are now calling for immediate action from Director Smetana to rectify the situation, urging him to issue a noncompliance notice to the park district and reaffirm that no permanent exemptions from noise ordinances should exist. The community's frustration is compounded by the lack of response to their inquiries and the growing sentiment that legal action may be their only recourse to address the ongoing noise issues.