Will Sound Barriers Quiet Pickleball Noise Debate?

For several years, pickleball has been celebrated as the nation’s fastest-growing sport. And Marco Island has undeniably become a pickleball paradise, with a waiting list for memberships at the city’s Racquet Center. But recently, complaints from neighbors about the noise associated with pickleball are being heard loud and clear in city council meetings, not only locally, but across the nation. On May 4, Marco City Council approved $52,284 to install acoustical panels on three sides of the existing pickleball courts at the city’s Racquet Center on San Marco Road. But questions remain whether the sound-deadening panels alone will quiet the debate.

Coastal Breeze News recently visited the Racquet Center during a busy morning for pickleball. Using a commercial decibel meter, we measured the effectiveness of the single Acoustiblok Pickleblok® acoustical barrier that is currently installed across the fence separating the pickleball courts from the neighboring San Marco Villas.

Our first sound measurements were taken about 10 feet in front of the unprotected fence facing the Racquet Center. The loudest decibel reading was 74.8 dB. Decibel readings consistently ranged from 50-67.5 dB. We then walked around the corner of the fence and stood just behind the acoustical barrier. The highest reading we got was 51.5 dB, below the city’s noise ordinance. The majority of readings were between 43-46 dB.

The newly approved panels, manufactured by Sound Seal (eNoise Control), were recommended by Tim Annett, a pickleball enthusiast who took part in a presentation to city council proposing private funding for additional pickleball courts. The eNoise panels will replace the lone Acoustiblok Pickleblok® panel currently in use at the Racquet Center. The eNoise panels are expected to outperform the existing panel.

An example of the pervasiveness of the noise debate can be found on the USA Pickleball website. The opening page of usapickleball.org is dedicated to stories on acoustics and noise reduction. The lead story opens with: “As pickleball continues to grow and more outdoor courts open nationwide, USA Pickleball is investing in research and innovation to help every community enjoy the sport. Addressing pickleball acoustics is essential to ensuring the game remains accessible and enjoyable for both players and neighbors.” The next story focuses on quiet and noise- reduced play. USA Pickleball Chief Executive Officer Mike Nealy announced: “We are excited to introduce the new Quiet Category for pickleball equipment and related initiatives as a pivotal step in the evolution of pickleball."  

Quiet equipment includes quiet or noise-reducing pickleball paddles and balls that claim to deliver "the same fast-paced rallies and performance you expect while significantly reducing noise levels."  USA Pickleball also recommends acoustic mitigation, like the City of Marco Island is implementing. USA Pickleball’s Facilities Program guides pickleball venues with acoustic analyses, court design, and sound-reduction strategies.

Currently, as many as 200 lawsuits have been filed by homeowners across the country, according to a story in Racquet Sports Industry’s May 2026 edition. RSI reports that the city of Carmel, California, voted to completely ban outdoor pickleball and that the city council in Martinez, California, voted to immediately and permanently discontinue pickleball play at an eight-court facility. Conversely, RSI reports that "county commissioners in Hillsborough County, Florida, rejected a proposal to pause new pickleball courts near homes despite residents’ complaints about escalating noise." 

The RSI article also offers sobering news on noise ordinances, decibel measurements, and sound barriers, quoting engineering attorney Charles Laehy, who authored an American Planning Association report, as saying that "traditional noise ordinances do not address the impulsive and repetitive noise from pickleball, making it difficult to regulate through decibel limits alone.” Laehy claims, “Measuring decibels works well for continuous noises like traffic or construction equipment, but not for sharp, impulsive noises.”  Laehy also said, “Barriers are not liked and the quiet equipment is not liked by players.” He further asserts that trying to keep peace between players and homeowners puts city council members in a "pressure cooker," according to the RSI story. 

Quiet Communities, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that "promotes quiet as a valuable natural resource and works to reduce harmful noise and related pollution,” has taken up the pickleball noise cause. Their vision is, “We believe a quieter, healthier world is possible and should be accessible to everyone.” Quiet Communities has organized a national task force on pickleball noise, targeting community leaders.

The new acoustical panels were expected to be installed at the Racquet Center within two months, with city staff completing the installation.