Pickleball court construction halted, sport banned at Denver park due to noise complaints

Following a slew of noise complaints and concerns, Denver Parks and Recreation has chosen to prohibit pickleball from Congress Park starting on April 3. Additionally, construction plans for new pickleball courts at Congress Park and Sloan Lake Park have been canceled. 

"This is due to the close proximity to residences that would result in consistent noise violations that could cause the need for future closures and/or limits to hours of operation," the Denver Parks and Recreation website reads.

The decision comes just weeks after the Centennial City Council passed an ordinance to ban the construction of outdoor pickleball courts for the next six months. 

Pickleball, a wiffleball sport that combines the rules of tennis and ping-pong, has gained serious popularity in the United States over the last few years, and has racked up noise complaints across the country. 

According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, a pickleball hit can be more that 25 decibels louder than a tennis ball hit. 

"To support the growing, popular sport of pickleball while being respectful of park neighbors, other sports court users, and department resources, Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) is evaluating other suitable locations for pickleball courts. DPR is also assessing existing outdoor pickleball courts and evaluating standards for where new pickleball courts should be located," officials from Denver Parks and Recreation said. 

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