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Residents urge action as pickleball noise, parking and safety complaints reach council
Summary
Several South Burlington residents told the City Council that noise from pickleball courts, parking shortages and aggressive driver behavior near Simanski Park are disrupting neighborhood life and raised health and legal concerns; residents handed a research packet to the council and asked for enforcement and better site management.
Several residents told the South Burlington City Council during public comment that activity at the new pickleball courts near Simanski Park is creating repeated noise, parking and safety problems for nearby homes.
"Most recently, this happened a couple of weeks ago. I told two gentlemen to leave. They waited until I rounded the bend and was out of sight, and then they started playing again," said Kelly Dougherty, who identified herself as a Laurel Hill Drive resident. Allison Harrig, who lives in the same neighborhood, described early‑morning play and confrontation: "At 06:47 in the morning there were two people playing, and I asked them to leave. And they told me that they have no other time to play." Both described frequent late‑evening and summertime disturbance audible from living rooms and bedrooms.
Giovanna Guarino handed councilors a 39‑page packet that she said compiles research on noise, health impacts and litigation related to pickleball courts, and warned the council the city could face legal exposure if neighborhood impacts are not addressed. "This is serious," Guarino said, urging officials to review scientific and legal material she provided.
Residents also asked the council to address parking and traffic safety on Andrews Avenue, where narrow parking at the courts forces pedestrians into the roadway and, according to speakers, prompted aggressive driving. Councilors did not take immediate regulatory action at the meeting but heard the public comments during the open public‑comment period.
