Neighbors press South Burlington to reconsider Smanski Park pickleball setup, cite traffic and safety

Several South Burlington residents told the council the pickleball courts at Smanski Park have produced excessive vehicle traffic, speeding and hazardous parking on narrow neighborhood streets. At the podium, resident John Beekler said players and their cars have increased neighborhood traffic and warned, "Someone's gonna get hurt." He asked the council to limit speeds and the volume of traffic associated with court use.

Giovanna Garrino said she and neighbors collected nearly 100 signatures and demanded that nets not go up until officials speak with residents: "We don't want it there." Kelly Jaugherty, who lives on Laurel Hill Drive, urged temporary speed bumps, resident‑only parking on Andrews Avenue and enforcement by South Burlington Police or the Recreation Department to prevent confrontations and improve visibility for children walking or biking to Orchard School.

Councilors debated operational options — enforcement of hours, resident parking, temporary speed humps — and whether to delay installation of the nets. A motion to delay the nets until a community conversation was proposed but did not pass. Councilors agreed to add a follow‑up agenda item to review the data on usage, traffic and noise and to consider targeted mitigation measures.