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Ramsey council approves tennis/pickleball code changes after residents’ noise complaints; council pauses, reviews and then adopts ordinance
Summary
After residents detailed persistent noise and health concerns from Finch Park pickleball courts, the council briefly tabled Ordinance 13‑2025 to review submitted research, then removed it from the table and adopted time‑limits and no‑music/no‑boom‑box provisions as interim relief.
The Borough of Ramsey on Thursday adopted Ordinance 13‑2025 amending local rules for tennis and pickleball courts after a lengthy public hearing in which nearby residents described daily noise and quality‑of‑life impacts.
Councilwoman Judy Cusk summarized the ordinance as a package of rule changes that adjusts hours for the East Oak Street tennis courts and Finch Park pickleball courts, creates resident‑exclusive time windows and adds "good neighbor" provisions precluding excessive noise, offensive behavior and loud music. Specific changes presented included weekday and weekend hours, and exclusive resident use windows for certain days and times.
During the public hearing, resident Brendan (Brandon) Larissy, who lives behind the Finch Park pickleball courts, said the impulsive "pop" noise and spectator shouting have made his home difficult to enjoy. Larissy cited recent research presented to the Acoustical Society and said studies and consulting reports recommend siting courts at least 100 feet from residences and, in some cases, several hundred feet away. "New research shows that pickleball noise raises major health concerns for residents living near courts," Larissy said; he told councilors he would send supporting documents for their review.
Rosanne Aliano and Paul Aliano also testified that the courts are too close to homes, described boomboxes, late‑evening play and increases in portable courts that create multiple simultaneous games. Rosanne Aliano said she and her husband have called police without consistent results and urged the council to restrict pickleball at Finch Park or move courts away from backyards.
In response, a council member moved to table the ordinance to allow council staff time to review the materials residents offered; that motion passed on a roll call. Later in the meeting, after legal and council discussion about interim mitigations and enforcement, the council voted to remove the ordinance from the table and then to adopt it "as written," emphasizing the ordinance’s time limits and the explicit prohibition on music and offensive behavior as immediate relief.
Council members said they plan to review the research residents submit, explore mitigation options (different balls or rackets, sound walls, alternate court placement), and examine enforcement and response procedures for noise complaints. Officials asked residents to send documents to the borough clerk for distribution to council members.
The ordinance passed on council roll‑call votes; recorded votes show unanimous support among voting council members. Council speakers said the ordinance offers interim protections while staff and council study longer‑term mitigation.
