[Massplanners] Zoning Bylaw Pickleball

Sun Nov 24 11:00:31 EST 2024

First of all, Mr. Bott, if you are not currently writing a daily humor column somewhere (or is that what planning reports are?...), WHY NOT?! Enjoyed your post...

Second, just wanted to throw this resource into the discussion:

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) released the 2024 State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report on November 14. 

"For the third year in a row, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America, according to SFIA’s Topline Participation Report. Pickleball has grown 51.8% from 2022 to 2023, and an incredible 223.5% in three years, with every single age group seeing increased participation. While many have associated the sport with a higher age participation, the age group with the most participants, 2.3 million people, is actually the 25-34 age range. The sport added over 1 million children under the age of 18 from 2022 to 2023. This cross-generational appeal highlights pickleball’s versatility and its ability to bring together diverse groups of people. The significant increase in youth participation also suggests a promising future for the sport as young players grow and continue to engage with pickleball."

Where I'M currently living and occasionally playing this sport (just above the elbow on the Cape), the community of players surely skews older (middle-aged and up, generally) — but it's also school/work hours, so no big surprise there — and the game provides tremendous easy-access fitness and community to that population. Games are ~15 minutes long and there's chitter-chatter inbetween before you dive into the next game. You just need a paddle, and to show up. (GOLF? That's $75+ and five hours!). Friendships form on and adjacent to the pickleball court. Town developments are discussed, local shopping tips are exchanged, and who knows a good electrician? People bring their garden vegetables to share...they network together on charitable activities (like a recent mini-tournament to raise money for homelessness on the Cape)...they host holiday parties for off-court socializing. Pickleball facilitates this kind of community which (I would argue) is PARTICULARLY important for older-skewing populations.

So there is great value in enabling this sport in our communities, I believe. (You'd THINK that the industry would have come up with a quieter ball by now; I'm guessing they're at work on that....). Reasonable distance from residential environments seems...reasonable (which is NOT what Centennial's 600 ft. is, IMHO...).

The larger point of my post here, though, is that it's not just an older person's game (anymore). As the paragraph above says, pickleball is making waves in the "still blond and brunette" populations, and is generally growing in popularity at ALL age levels. Again, no surprise.

Plan well, friends.

Jeff Mills

Publisher, Massachusetts Planning 

J.M. Communications

Maynard & Orleans MA

From: Thomas Bott <tbott.townplanner at verizon.net>
Reply-To: Thomas Bott <tbott.townplanner at verizon.net>
Date: Friday, November 22, 2024 at 1:46 PM
To: "Mark Smith Design Inc." <designink9 at gmail.com>, robert leavens <rtleavemware at gmail.com>
Cc: Megan Trudel <mtrudel at nantucket-ma.gov>, "MassPlanners at masscptc.org" <massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] Zoning Bylaw Pickleball

It’s likely best to launch this PSA regarding the third rail of local zoning, that is even more hazardous than the chickens and backyard clothesline discussions from back in the day. 

Yes they raise a racquet but seeking a mute button has the potential to launch a blue hair wave which should not be confused with a blue hair rave. https://ravemaster.fandom.com/wiki/Sieghart_Caeser 

Having recently returned from Bainbridge Island,  birthplace and uber-exporter of the aforementioned cult,  it seems like this thing is catching on. 

Much like the ToK’s previous fowl efforts at regulating poultry amounts of domesticated birds, your zoning efforts will require a 2/3 vote.  Consider the merits of scheduling a HUGE picketball tournament during your Town Meeting or be prepared for a shocking result. 

TBott 

Thomas Bott CranberryLand USA Town Planner

Practicing Planning in the Commonwealth since the last Millennium  #TownPlannerSilverJubilee

On Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 09:30:27 AM EST, robert leavens via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote: 

Manchester by the Sea (MBTS) was having an issue with the sound from pickleball courts they installed.

I'm not sure how it was resolved (at one point, parking in the area was allowed for all except for pickleball players!), but one of the abutters, who had just bought the house, was the most strenuous complainer.

Check with the recreation dept in MBTS to see how they resolved the noise issue.

Betsy Ware

(former interim town planner)

On Tue, Nov 19, 2024 at 9:22 AM Mark Smith Design Inc. via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:

Megan-

Lenox does not, but if it's a concern about sound (which seems to be the main complaint these days), many bylaws have restrictions on sound levels and their associated activities and allowable times of day.

Mark Smith 

Planning Board

Town of Lenox

On Mon, Nov 18, 2024 at 5:07 PM Megan Trudel via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:

Hi All, 

Does any other community have prohibition of pickleball courts through their zoning bylaw?

Megan Trudel, AICP 

Senior Planner

Town of Nantucket

2 Fairgrounds Rd, Nantucket MA 02554

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