Neighbors Fed Up With Pickleball Noise Sue Upper Main Line YMCA

Some residents in Berwyn said they've had enough with noise from pickleball courts in their neighborhood and have taken action.

The Upper Main Line YMCA in Berywn has shut down its outdoor pickleball courts in response to a lawsuit from homeowners near the YMCA about the noise.

According to a 6abc.com report, residents of four properties approximately 500 to 1,000 feet from the pickleball court claim that the Upper Main Line YMCA violated Easttown Township's zoning code. The homeowners said the YMCA staff failed to obtain the necessary permits when they converted the tennis courts into pickleball courts.

Claimants also named Easttown Township in the lawsuit, claiming the township allegedly failed to enforce its noise and code ordinances in dealing with the YMCA. In April, the Easttown Township Board voted to revise its zoning code to permit outdoor pickleball play.

A statement from the YMCA to Action 6 News read: "We strive to be good neighbors and thoughtful stewards of our shared community. We are currently facing civil litigation related to the alleged violations of local noise ordinances stemming from pickleball activities on the premises."

Dale Van Scoyk, owner of Pickleball Sound Mitigation Consulting, said his company helps homeowners and organizations across the country identify sound mitigation strategies for outdoor pickleball courts.

"The sound wave has a particular characteristic that's annoying to humans. First of all, it's a short pop," he said. "The frequency happens to be 1,000 hertz, which is the same as human speech, so our ears are tuned to listen carefully for that particular frequency."

After receiving conditional approval for a court hearing, the homeowners now must submit evidence of noise studies, and the YMCA must submit proof it is complying with noise and nuisance standards.