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Lisle board tables pickleball noise study; asks park district to weigh in
Summary
Trustees agreed to table a decision on hiring a noise consultant for pickleball courts at Abbey Wood Park until the park district reviews mitigation options; staff presented two consultant proposals, one modeled and one field-measurement approach, and trustees preferred an on-site monitoring study.
The Village of Lisle Committee of the Whole on April 21 discussed two consultant proposals to evaluate noise from pickleball courts at Abbey Wood Park and reached consensus to table the matter until the park district and the board can review mitigation options and staff can return at the second meeting in May.
Public Works Director Elias summarized two consultant proposals in the board packet: "One of the proposals from Thunder Hearing and Sound would use some modeled pickleball noise, and the other proposal from Huff and Huff would would monitor the actual noise," he said, adding both firms would assess whether noise constituted nuisance-level sound or a hearing-damage risk.
Why it matters: neighbors have complained about noise from pickleball activity; the board must decide whether to commission a study and, if so, which methodology to use before proposing mitigation or regulation.
Trustees debated whether to approve a study now or allow the newly seated park district board to test mitigation steps first. Trustee Olson moved to defer to allow the new board members time to review; Trustee Mullin supported postponing to the second meeting in May to give the park district time to work with residents. Trustee Greco said he favored the Huff and Huff approach because it gauges actual conditions: "I like the Huff and Huff approach then," Greco said. Trustee Duffy urged that the park district take the lead where appropriate: "I prefer to have the park district resolve the issues at parks, within their own organization, within their own budget. I don't think the village should be dragged into it."
Public Works Director Elias told the committee the consultants were directed to evaluate noise primarily from a hearing-damage perspective and were not specifically scoped to study repeated concussive hits from play. The board agreed by consensus to table the contract-selection decision and to revisit the issue at the second May meeting after the park district has had an opportunity to consider mitigation strategies.
Next steps: staff will hold the matter until the park district completes its review and will return to the board at the second meeting in May with any updated recommendations or with a contract request if the board chooses to proceed.
