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Board adopts ordinance limiting outdoor pickleball hours after public debate
Summary
Easttown supervisors adopted an amendment to the township noise code that sets weekday pickleball hours 8 a.m.–7 p.m. and weekend hours 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; YMCA counsel and residents clashed over whether the change was necessary and whether outreach had been sufficient.
The Easttown Township Board of Supervisors on Jan. 6, 2025 adopted an amendment to the township noise ordinance that establishes specific time limits for outdoor pickleball play and preserves existing decibel limits.
The ordinance, described by staff as an amendment to Chapter 278, Section 27 of the Township Code, sets play windows of 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays while leaving numerical decibel limits unchanged. The board voted by voice to approve the ordinance; the transcript records the motion and a voice vote in favor but does not include a roll-call tally.
Why it matters: Neighbors and the township previously raised noise concerns arising from increased pickleball use; the ordinance aims to add clearer time-based expectations in addition to the existing audible/decibel standard. Board members said the rule provides a reasonable initial framework that can be adjusted later.
During public comment, Joseph Kuszi, an attorney speaking for the YMCA (upper Main Line campus), said the YMCA has tested noise levels on its property and in surrounding areas and found no violation of the Township code. Kuszi told the board the YMCA had already voluntarily modified pickleball hours and would continue to monitor use and cooperate with the township. “We are committed deeply to working with the township and with the residents to address any noise concerns,” Kuszi said, and offered to provide a direct contact to funnel specific complaints to his office.
Several residents pushed back. A resident identified in the transcript as Michael D said he was surprised by the specificity and speed of the ordinance given earlier public meetings that suggested the issue might be resolved differently. Another commenter, Craig Richie, urged the board not to treat pickleball like inherently disruptive activities such as demolition or motorized equipment and cautioned that the ordinance could be applied in ways that unintentionally constrain recreational uses.
Board members responded by stressing that the ordinance creates parameters rather than an absolute prohibition and that it can be revised if circumstances or technology change (for example, if quieter paddles or other noise mitigations become widely available). One supervisor also asked whether the YMCA had paid outside counsel; the attorney declined to disclose payment details, citing privilege.
The ordinance process: Staff confirmed the ordinance had been advertised and that procedural prerequisites (advertisement and distribution to county news/Chester County library) were met prior to the meeting. The board passed the ordinance by voice vote; the transcript does not include a roll-call or numerical vote tally.
Next steps: The board indicated the ordinance could be revisited later and encouraged further dialogue between the YMCA and neighbors to address specific complaints.
