Lone Tree Pickleball Courts Cause ‘Unbearable Conditions’

Catherine Parenteau hits a ball during a pickleball game at the Goodyear Blimp Base on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, in Carson, California. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

DENVER (KDVR) — The city of Lone Tree is being sued over noise pollution caused by pickleball players on its recreation center courts, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in Douglas County.

The lawsuit, filed by five Lone Tree residents, claims the noise exceeded “all reasonable standards” and deprives them of “the quiet enjoyment of their homes and outdoor spaces.” The lawsuit also claims the city refuses to close the courts.

“Meanwhile, nuisance-level noise rages daily, with pickleballs hitting paddles every two seconds, even more than thirteen hours a day,” the lawsuit reads. The group says it has been demanding the closure of the courts for the past seven months.

Pickleball, a sport inspired by badminton and tennis, has been gaining popularity in recent years and is beloved by its players. Last year, groups fought over pickleball courts in Denver’s Congress Park and Centennial, but new courts continued to appear in the metro area.

According to South Suburban Parks and Recreation, which owns the Lone Tree Recreation Center, the facility has six outdoor pickleball courts that are open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The facility also offers night lighting, which extends the fun time for pickleballers.

According to the lawsuit, neighbors of the Lone Tree pickleball courts conducted a sound study to see how loud the game would be. The group said the noise level data was “irrefutable” and that the courts produced noise that exceeded noise limits by 10-15 decibels.

The lawsuit states that the average noise level for a pickleball game is 62.1 decibels, while state noise abatement regulations specify that the daytime noise level should be 50 decibels and the nighttime noise level should be 45 decibels.

Lawsuit: Noise from pickleball game ‘unreasonable’ under city code

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a noise exposure limit of 85 decibels averaged over an eight-hour day to prevent hearing loss, and says this is about the level at which a raised voice is needed to carry on a conversation . The agency also notes that equipment that can produce noise levels exceeding 85 decibels includes lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners and power tools.

However, the group argues that the noise made at the pickleball courts is “unreasonable noise” based on city code, which defines it as “any sound that annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of ordinary sensitivity; or endangers or harms the safety or health of persons or animals; or endangers or damages personal or real property; and is the subject of a complaint by anyone.”

The two residents who filed the lawsuit argue in the complaint that they bought a home in the area to “view the sunset from their patio,” but are unable to use it because of the “unbearable noise” coming from the courts. They also claim that they tried to fix the problem by “installing a fountain and speakers on the deck, even putting headphones outside at times.”

“None of these methods have worked,” the lawsuit continued. “The noise coming from the yard is so bothersome that (the couple) can hear it while inside the home.” One of the other residents who filed the lawsuit said the noise has affected his ability to work from home.

Ultimately, the group is seeking the closure of the pickleball courts, an injunction barring Lone Tree from reopening the courts unless they are enclosed in a soundproof structure, and reimbursement of the group’s legal fees.

FOX31 reached out to the plaintiffs and the City of Lone Tree about the matter. The City told FOX31 it does not comment on pending litigation.