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Burnsville residents urge council to rule out park as pickleball site, citing noise, access and health concerns
Summary
Several residents and advocates told the Burnsville City Council the park site under consideration for a new pickleball complex would harm vulnerable adults, people with disabilities and wildlife; a council member said the site is not an option for her and staff will return with alternate options in April.
Dozens of Burnsville residents urged the City Council on Tuesday to remove a lakeside park from consideration as the site of a proposed pickleball complex, citing health impacts from noise, increased traffic and loss of peaceful access for vulnerable residents.
Speakers at the meeting said the park under consideration (referred to variously in public comments as "Alleymagnet" or similar spellings in the record) is adjacent to multiple licensed group homes and assisted-living residences whose occupants rely on the park's quiet for physical and mental well-being. "It's really noisy," said Susan Bissonnette, a Burnsville resident, describing how chronic noise would affect her own medical condition and sleep.
The concern extended beyond nearby homeowners. Betsy Sturm, a licensed social worker and member of local park advocates, read an excerpt of a letter from the owner of Geneva Suites, an assisted-living residence, saying the facility's residents valued the site's "serene, tranquil lake environment" and that subjecting them to pickleball noise would be "deeply unfortunate." Another commenter, Dawn Grinch, said a neighbor who uses a motorized wheelchair would face safety and access problems if pedestrian and vehicle traffic increased around court entrances.
Parents of children with disabilities also spoke. "The park helps my son so that he can enjoy life again," said Lauren Danner, who described daily visits with her autistic son and the calming effects of the site's restored woods.
Council Member Kylie Mooge and other members listened while Mayor Elizabeth Kautz thanked speakers for sharing personal perspectives. Council Member Gustafson told the public she had concluded the park "is not the right one" and said, "at least for me, it's off the table." The council did not make a final decision on location at the meeting.
City staff told the council they will return with options in April; the mayor noted staff would present information and alternatives before any decision is made. There was no formal motion or vote on the park location during the meeting.
Public commenters also cited the park's wildlife and recent habitat restoration, noting that removal of buckthorn and other work has opened lines of sight and could increase the audible and visible effect of courts on animals and nearby residents. Commenters referenced a 2023 report on parks and health and scientific summaries about natural soundscapes and stress reduction; those sources were cited by speakers but not introduced as formal evidence in the council record.
Council members and staff acknowledged the city's need for additional pickleball courts but emphasized the process will include more study of locations and community impacts before any site is selected.
The council proceeded to other business after public comment; there was no vote on the park site and no formal direction recorded beyond staff returning with options.
