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Whitefish Bay board narrows park rules, adopts ordinance after heated pickleball debate
Summary
After sustained public complaints about pickleball noise, the board adopted ordinance 1916 to clarify park hours and enforcement; trustees debated narrower hour limits and acoustic mitigation but rejected amendments to ban dogs or restrict hours further.
The Whitefish Bay Village Board adopted Ordinance No. 1916 on April 21, 2025, amending park‑use rules to set pickleball hours, clarify where dogs are allowed and strengthen enforcement language. The ordinance passed after lengthy discussion about noise, neighbor impacts and mitigation options.
Neighbors, trustees and staff described months of escalating use and resulting complaints. One trustee summarized the residents’ experience, noting that the sound had become "almost intolerable" for households adjacent to the courts. Trustees considered—and rejected—several amendments, including a tighter hour limit and a full ban on dogs in park areas. A motion to adopt the ordinance as presented carried, with two trustees recorded as opposed.
Mitigation and enforcement: The board directed public works to pursue short‑term mitigation (including investigating acoustic barrier material used elsewhere) and to measure decibel levels to assess whether the curtains or other sound attenuation measures reduce impacts. Trustees and staff also discussed possible equipment and ball/paddle restrictions as another mitigation avenue.
Why it matters: The debate juxtaposed two public goals: encouraging active use of parks and protecting quality of life for adjacent homeowners. Trustees repeatedly framed the issue as a balancing act between resident complaints and community programming that attracts broad participation.
Quotes and context: Trustee Tara urged greater sensitivity to long‑standing residents: "These people did not buy a house next to a pickleball court," she said, arguing for more restrictive hours and neighborhood protections. Public works staff said they are ordering, testing and measuring acoustic curtains used by other municipalities while assessing staff capacity and wind/load questions for temporary barriers.
Next steps: Staff will pursue sound‑attenuation options, seek vendor specifications and return with measurement data and recommended next steps. The ordinance will remain in effect while staff evaluates mitigation and enforcement tools.
