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Pickleball dispute draws broad public comment; town manager defends enforcement and mandates quieter ball
Summary
Residents and players clashed at public comment over noise and enforcement at the Heritage Park pickleball courts. Town Manager Collins defended staff actions after an unauthorized rally, reiterated park-hour enforcement, and announced a requirement for a quieter approved ball with an extension to allow players time to acquire it.
A lengthy public-comment segment focused on noise, traffic and harassment surrounding the pickleball courts near Ashubert Road and Heritage Park. Multiple residents described persistent noise, increased traffic on a dead-end street, and what they called harassment of neighbors; one commenter said neighbors were not notified before the court was developed and urged the board to act. Some pickleball players and organizers urged compromise and offered quieter equipment as a solution.
Town Manager Collins explained staff actions after an unauthorized rally and defended the requirement that players use quieter, approved balls (the town authorized the Vortex EVO or an equivalent, and identified a Franklin silent-serve ball as an acceptable alternative). Collins said the rules were established to address what staff concluded could be a public nuisance and to avoid potential court closures. "The town merely established reasonable rules in order to address a noise problem," Collins said. The board moved into an executive session at the end of the meeting to address related litigation and personnel matters.
