Residents press Select Board on pickleball noise; town manager points to litigation risk, new ball rule

Multiple residents and advocates addressed the Select Board during public comment over noise from the town's eight outdoor pickleball courts, presenting competing viewpoints about public benefit and neighbor impacts.

Betsy Pratt, a resident who supports the courts, argued they "have become a community" and asked whether "one person's objection outweigh the overwhelming public benefit these courts provide to hundreds of people." In contrast, Ernie Barrows, who identified himself as a spokesperson for nearby neighbors, described years of dispute and said the change in ball type was the town's chosen mitigation. Barrows described personal harassment and said his neighborhood presented a petition years earlier.

Rob Mastroianni, who said he operates Pickleball Noise Solutions and has an MPH, urged adoption of quieter balls and pointed to acoustic standards: "Most quiet balls can decrease the noise by 7 to 10 dB," he said. Marie Chung Treslow, a player, requested a 90-day stay of the town's July 20, 2026 rule requiring exclusive use of the Vortex EVO (or equivalent) ball, calling the timing and enforcement plan impracticable.

Town manager (Mr. Collins) responded that town counsel had advised there was a risk of nuisance litigation if noise "injuriously impacts the health or comfort of ordinary people" and that the town had 16 complainants. Collins described seeking a compromise to avoid litigation and said the administration would follow up on ball availability and enforcement logistics.