Committee backs interior 10-foot fences and eNoise panels to reduce pickleball noise; forwards recommendation to council

The Parks and Recreation Committee reviewed a noise study presented by consultant Tim Annette and voted to recommend the City Council install eNoise sound panels and add 10-foot interior fences between groups of courts at the racket/pickleball center.

Tim showed colorized noise maps and told the committee ‘‘trees and shrubs don't do anything to curtail noise,’’ and that adding interior 10-foot fences between four-court sections — combined with eNoise panels — produced much more green (lower-noise) areas in the model than perimeter panels alone.

Zach Lombardo, speaking on behalf of the presenter, outlined a donor-backed proposal to reconfigure the facility to 16 courts (refurbishing the existing eight and adding eight), add lighting, shade and access control, and ensure the site can be self-sustaining for operations and maintenance.

Member John Agis said he had a confidence issue with the consultant, citing a recent publication suggesting only modest reductions in some locations and asking that the city obtain objective validation. City procurement/facilities staff agreed to verify vendor measurements, to coordinate with police on pre- and post-installation decibel checks and to secure contractor quotes. Joe Pirelli said vendor measurement verification is in progress and estimated an eight-week lead time to process an order once verified.

The committee discussed using remaining funds in the existing racket-center project to add the interior 10-foot fence with eNoise at the same time the city installs perimeter work so the extra work would be installed concurrently. Member Darren Spindler moved that the committee recommend council proceed with that plan; members seconded and the motion passed by roll call. Committee members asked staff to pursue bids, confirm shutdown and installation timing (staff noted some shutdown will be required to remove and re-set existing poles) and to return with firm costs before or when the matter is presented to council.

Next steps: staff will refine cost estimates and schedule, coordinate vendor field testing and decibel measurements with the police, and prepare a presentation to City Council. The committee’s recommendation will go to council for final funding and procurement decisions.

Representative quotes from the meeting included Tim’s summary of mitigation options and John Agis’s request for objective verification of the study.