During the Aug. 24 Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting, member Jay McHale gave a brief update on the town’s effort to locate pickleball courts in areas that will keep the noise away from neighbors. Those at Sprague Field and Perrin Park, in particular, have caused grief for people living nearby.
The Morses Pond parking lot has been raised as a possible new location throughout the process to address pickleball demand vs. neighbors’ rights. McHale said he met recently with the heads of the Board of Public Works, the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), and the Recreation Commission, and that the Department of Public Works has put through a proposal for possibly locating 4 pickleball courts at the Morses Pond parking lot.
McHale and fellow NRC member Michael D’Ortenzio made a site visit to test how far sound would carry, and found that it would not carry to either the beach or nearby Turner Road.
The CPC has arranged a meeting for Aug. 29 that includes an agenda item about possibly putting a general article on the fall Special Town Meeting warrant for funding that McHale said could go toward Morses Pond pickleball court design or for the whole project if the plan continues to go forward.
“It’s important for the community to know we’re trying to come up with a solution,” McHale said.
Earlier this summer, the Recreation Commission updated hours and days that pickleball play was allowed at various venues.
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It’s good to know that the Town now recognizes how intrusive pickleball noise is to nearby residents and is taking steps to relocate these courts.
The Morse’s Pond parking lot is an isolated location and a good walk from the Turner Road gate. The Turner gate is closed except for Summer school vacation and the only parking then is along that road. Pickleballers were playing throughout the year at Sprague and Perrin. Is the Turner gate going to be open all year long?
There is also space at Hunnewell Field against the aqueduct between the two westerly baseball fields for four to six pickleball courts. Acoustic mats could be used on the north fence side if needed. Except for tearing up the grass, has that location been considered?
I am deeply concerned that the pickle ball courts could lead to noise pollution for the animals of Morse’s Pond. The squirrels, chipmunks, various birds, turtles and other wild animals will struggle with the noise and be forced to find new homes.