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Morristown plans relocation of Lidgerwood Park pickleball courts after neighborhood noise complaints; town says play will continue
Summary
After multiple residents complained about noise from pickleball courts at Lidgerwood Park, the Morristown administration told council it will relocate the courts to a new site but will not close the existing courts until replacements are open. Residents and players urged the council to avoid a lapse in play.
MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Morristown officials told the Town Council on March 25 that they will move three newly built pickleball courts at Lidgerwood Park to a different location after residents raised persistent noise concerns, and that the existing courts will remain open until replacements are ready.
The issue drew nearly an hour of public comment during the council’s public-comment period, with neighbors saying sound from frequent play carries into adjacent streets and yards and players and seniors asking the town to preserve local access to courts and lessons.
Residents said the noise is audible at substantial distances and that the courts’ proximity to homes makes the problem acute. “The back fence is about 10 feet from my property line,” said Amanda Goodwin, a Windmill Pond resident, and she urged the council to consider relocation because “the noise … can be heard at very far distances.” Keith Servelle, who lives near Lidgerwood, said he was “very pleased to hear that there are plans to move the courts someplace else, someplace more suitable.”
Players and supporters countered that pickleball is a popular, intergenerational activity and cautioned against disrupting programs. “Pickleball is hugely popular amongst all age groups,” said John Williams, who asked that a majority of courts remain available “until new courts are ready, so there will be no disruption.” Ed Peters noted the town’s investment in the courts, saying “the town has spent a hundred thousand dollars or more on these courts.”
Council members and staff described efforts already under way to balance neighborhood concerns and player access. Councilman Russo said, “the idea is to get these courts still in town, somewhere else … and there won't be any kind of lapse in play.” Recreation staff member Jillian told the council, “Not sure where the misinformation came from, but we have no intention of closing the existing courts until we find a location to reopen them.” The administration also said it has coordinated with the police department to enforce hours and locking of the courts when necessary.
Speakers pressed for more detail on timing and site selection. Council members said the town will engage the public before finalizing a new location. “When we're ready to discuss it in detail, there will absolutely be a public discussion,” a member of the administration said.
Background: Residents described prior tennis courts and two earlier, striped pickleball courts that were used before the current three courts were installed; residents and players disagreed over how heavily the new courts are used and over the scale of noise impact. Amanda Goodwin cited litigation and noise disputes elsewhere in the U.S. as context for the complaints and said studies show audible impacts at distances of 50 to 100 feet; other speakers said noise is part of park life and urged compromise.
Next steps: The administration said it will continue to refine interim operating hours, coordinate enforcement with police, pursue a new permanent site within town limits, and present plans publicly before removing the Lidgerwood courts. Council members emphasized they expect further public engagement before any final relocation.
