Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ken-Caryl residents and players clash over Bradford Park pickleball noise; task force to test foam balls and sound fence
Summary
At the April 22 Ken-Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District meeting residents urged low-cost noise tests, players defended court access and staff said a task force will pilot quieter balls and consider a sound-absorbing fence and simple decibel measurements.
Residents and players urged the Ken-Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District board to resolve noise complaints arising from pickleball play at Bradford Park during the district’s April 22, 2025 meeting.
The dispute surfaced during public comment as task force members and neighbors described opposing perspectives on noise, parking and sightlines. The district has formed a task force that includes community members and players to study mitigation options.
"I would advise that we try soft foam balls…that to me seems like a reasonable compromise and a good first step rather than going with a moderately plastic [fence]," said JP Bordewick, a North Ranch resident, urging the board to test foam balls before spending on a sound fence.
Paul Spigley, who identified himself as a resident, said quieter balls may noticeably change the play and asked the board to assess noise in person before deciding. "Those balls will significantly reduce or even eliminate the noise that could be heard by…neighbors," he said, adding that board members should listen on-site during play to understand impacts.
Chad, a parks staff member who leads the district’s work on the issue, told the board the task force has four community members and is pursuing two near-term tests: trialing quieter pickleballs and exploring a sound-catching fence on the park’s south side. Chad said the district also intends to use a phone-decibel app as a "pre-assessment"—a before-and-after measure of effectiveness rather than a scientific study.
Staff and residents raised additional questions about where any sound meter should be placed; some said measuring in the field center might understate noise at nearby homes and asked that meters be located to reflect what neighbors hear.
Board members did not take formal action on the proposals at the meeting. Staff said the district will organize additional task-force work, community outreach and small pilots before returning to the board with results.
The district’s next steps include testing foam balls, pilot installation of a temporary sound-catching fence if warranted, and collecting before-and-after decibel readings using a phone app to gauge whether the mitigation makes a measurable difference.
