Barrington council rejects ordinance to add lights, limit hours at Kent Street courts after neighborhood objections

The Barrington Town Council voted 5-0 to reject Ordinance 2025-2, a proposal to establish hours of use and to install lights at the Kent Street courts, after a lengthy public hearing and hours of council debate.

The measure, brought forward following Park and Recreation Commission discussions, would have set restricted hours and allowed lights at courts striped for tennis and pickleball. Town Manager Hervey described the item as a carryover from earlier council action; Park and Rec had recommended limiting play and the prior council had voted in favor of lights before pausing the project to resolve hours questions.

Neighbors told the council that the courts, which sit near residences and a nature area, already produce disruptive sound during summer evenings and early mornings and that lights would add unwanted light pollution. Patricia Stoddard of 12 Kent Street told the council, “Even in the summer, when I want to have dinner on my deck … we hear pickleball through our entire dinner.” Michael Johnson of 28 Old Chimney Road said the neighborhood opposed lights and urged the council to rely on existing lighted school courts for after-dark play.

Council members debated money, enforcement, ecology and precedent. Councilor Burrard said she was concerned about spending at a time of tight budgets and about approving a site‑specific ordinance rather than a townwide policy. Councilor Berard and Councilor O’Neil cited light pollution and the courts’ location on the Greenbelt Trail as reasons to pause. Several councilors asked for a more holistic approach coordinated through Parks and Recreation before approving lights or fixed hours for a single site.

After public comment and more council discussion, Councilor Burrard moved to reject Ordinance 2025-2 as presented; the motion passed 5-0.

The council also discussed next steps: the town manager said the installation would require a new bid and council approval before proceeding, and councilors said they would not authorize lights now but could revisit the question if community demand or funding priorities change.

Votes at the meeting mirrored neighborhood sentiment: the council rejected the specific ordinance and, by implication, halted plans to install lights at Kent Street until further study or separate approval.

The issue is expected to resurface if Parks and Recreation or residents push for a townwide policy for evening play or a future lights bid.