Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation Noise topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Morristown council over pickleball noise at Lidgerwood Park; council says it is seeking sites
Summary
Residents told the Morristown Council on Sept. 9 that impulse noise from newly installed pickleball courts at Lidgerwood Park exceeds state noise limits and is harming nearby households; council members said they hear the complaints and are exploring alternative sites but offered no immediate remedy.
Residents near Lidgerwood Park told the Morristown Town Council on Tuesday that noise from newly installed pickleball courts is disrupting homes and may violate New Jersey noise-control rules.
Amelia Nunn, a nearby resident, told the council she and neighbors have measured single impacts as high as 63.5 decibels and cited the New Jersey Administrative Code limit for impulsive sounds: “Impulsive sound . . . shall not exceed 50 decibels.” She said repeated paddle strikes — “144 hits per hour” on one court and “over 430 hits per hour” if multiple courts are active — mean the courts consistently exceed the cited limit.
Nunn’s remarks were echoed by Susan Bridal, another nearby resident, who said the “clack or pop” of pickleball is “impossible to live with” and that she can hear play from inside her house with windows closed.
The complaints drew responses from Mayor Timothy P. Daugherty and council members, who acknowledged the problem but stopped short of a formal fix. Daugherty said the town has limited land and is exploring options: some nearby property is state-owned, and acquiring or developing suitable replacement sites requires environmental checks and possible purchase. He also noted that public petitions previously supported creating pickleball courts in the area and that the council is trying to balance competing neighborhood desires.
No ordinance, enforcement action or timetable for mitigation was adopted at the meeting. The mayor said the town has looked at potential privately owned parcels and that finding a noncontaminated, feasible site “takes a little bit longer than you may think.” Council members and staff also noted jurisdictional limits: some nearby land and certain traffic and lighting issues are county or state responsibilities.
Why this matters: residents cited state noise standards and academic research on impulse noise; council members acknowledged the health and livability concerns and said the town will continue searching for solutions but did not set a date for a staff report or formal remediation.
Next steps: the council said it will continue to investigate alternate locations and noted petitions and prior public input that supported the original installation. Residents were advised to pursue formal noise measurements with town staff if they want an official review.
