Proposed Pickleball Courts Spark Heated Debate at Hingham Select Board Meeting
Residents voice concerns over noise, cost, and process while supporters tout community benefits
HINGHAM - March 6 - A proposal for a $2 million, 12-court pickleball facility at Carlson Fields dominates discussion at the Hingham Select Board meeting, with dozens of residents offering passionate testimony both for and against the project.
The Recreation Commission seeks $1,277,960 from the town to construct dedicated pickleball courts, with an additional $758,640 already approved by the Community Preservation Committee.
"Hingham has an enormous pickleball community. Over 500 pickleball-playing residents are all connected through a pickleball app called TeamReach," says Mark Thorell, Director of Recreation. "The construction of dedicated pickleball courts would positively impact the Hingham tennis community."
Recreation Commission Chair Vicki Donlan emphasizes the project's long-term value, describing it as "one and done" with post-tension concrete courts featuring a 30-year lifespan.
The Commission voted unanimously to request funding for the most aggressive form of sound mitigation recommended by consultants, including 15-foot high fences and acoustical panels around the perimeter of the courts.
"Given the level of concerns expressed by the abutters, the Rec Commission felt that moving forward with the most aggressive form of sound mitigation was the right course of action," Thorell explains.
According to sound studies, the highest noise level recorded at any nearby address would be 37 decibels, which is 13 decibels less than the maximum level recommended by model noise ordinances for pickleball.
However, residents from neighborhoods surrounding the proposed site express significant concerns about noise, traffic, and what they describe as an inadequate public process.
"The commercial-sized 12-court pickleball project proposal in a quiet residential neighborhood at Carlson Field has the potential of subjecting all abutters to 130,000 high-pitched, tonal, impulsive 106-decibel pops a day, seven days a week," says Hillary Tutko of Hillside Terrace.
Bill Crean of Edgar Walker Court criticizes the process, saying abutters weren't properly consulted. "From the beginning, many people have heard me talk. My conversations have never been about 'kill it.' It's been, 'but I really do want to address the comment model process.'"
Crean adds, "I want you guys to have pickleball. I'm not against pickleball... But you can't hurt one community when you haven't involved another community."
Anita Ryan of Baker Hill Drive raises concerns about the town's noise bylaws. "The town has a bylaw. That bylaw was passed at town meeting... I don't understand how we can enforce that rule, that bylaw that has been adopted at town meeting and also at the same time allow this project to go forward because the two contradict each other."
Supporters of the project emphasize the sport's growing popularity and community benefits.
"Pickleball is just a great community builder," says Kathy Kilcoyne, USA Pickleball ambassador from Weymouth. "From Weymouth's point of view, Hingham has done their due diligence. They have created a transparent process for being able to do this project. It's really a model."
Mary Ann Bryan of Prospect Street notes, "We have zero pickleball courts in town. We have tennis courts that Park and Rec has done a great job of modifying so that we can learn the game, but you cannot properly play the game on a tennis court."
After nearly two hours of public comment, the Select Board decides to postpone the vote until the board's next meeting on Tuesday.
"I think the comments that I heard this evening, I want to consider not just 10 minutes after I've heard them," Fisher says. "And so out of respect for, I think, the time and effort that everyone here has put in, I want to take the additional time and effort to make a reasoned decision here."
Select Board member Liz Klein encourages residents to continue providing input. "If you have additional comments or something that we haven't heard tonight, feel free to email us, and we'll consider that before Tuesday."
Other significant items from the meeting:
* Anti-Semitic Incident: Fisher opened the meeting by addressing a swastika discovered in a boys' restroom at Hingham High School, reading statements from the interim principal and the Hingham Hall Religious Leaders Association condemning the act.
* Center for Active Living: The board unanimously approved Article Z to be considered at Town Meeting, allocating $2.5 million for design and project management for the proposed Center for Active Living at Bear Cove Park.
* DPW Vehicles: The board approved adding a warrant article for $1.6 million to fund replacement of aging DPW vehicles and equipment, many of which have been deferred for years.
* Library Fundraiser: The board approved a one-day liquor license for the Hingham Public Library's "Library Links" mini-golf fundraiser on April 4, 2025.
* Community Preservation: The board approved most Community Preservation Committee recommendations, holding back only the pickleball courts pending next week's vote.
The Select Board will reconvene Tuesday to vote on the pickleball courts proposal after considering the extensive public feedback.