Halifax likely to close 'tremendously tormenting' pickleball court after years of noise complaints

Halifax is a step closer to shutting down a pickleball court that has drawn noise complaints from neighbours, but players of the growing sport are hopeful another option could open nearby.

On Thursday, the community planning and economic development standing committee agreed the pickleball courts in Castle Hill Park in the Rockingham area should be converted back to tennis courts.

"We're also helping to resume people's quality of life in their homes, because that can be tremendously tormenting," said Coun. Trish Purdy.

The courts are just 10 metres from one multi-unit building, and very close to other surrounding apartment complexes and single-family homes.

Some neighbours told CBC News last year they could no longer spend time on their balconies, and the sharp popping sound of the ball was like being in a "psychological torture chamber."

"I 100 per cent get the feelings of the people who have complained to the council about this," said pickleball player Roger Daigle, who often used the Castle Hill courts.

City staff told councillors that they tried to help the sound issues by limiting the court hours, and introduced foam balls this summer to cut down on the harsher noise that comes with a plastic ball. But these did not make a major difference.

Daigle said he appreciates that staff tried a few things before deciding to close the courts, but the foam balls simply don't work.

"It sucks the joy out of the sport, is what it does. It's quiet, I'll give it that for sure," he said.

Noise complaints around pickleball have become an issue across North America as the sport exploded in popularity in recent years.

Municipal staff said the city has now adopted rules that follow standards from Vancouver where new hard-surface pickleball courts must be a minimum of 65 metres from residences if there is no other soundproofing. The setback size increases as the number of courts on a site goes up.

Donald Johnston, president of Pickleball Nova Scotia, said their group has known for a long time Castle Hill was not a good location.

"We fully support HRM in their decision. It is the right decision for sure," Johnston said. 

Staff had also suggested that the community planning and economic development standing committee ask regional council to include funding in the upcoming 2025-26 regional budget to design pickleball courts within Mainland Common in Clayton Park, but councillors did not pass that request.

Some councillors said they weren't ready to recommend any projects before seeing the full budget list in the new year, and parks and recreation staff could always present the idea at that time.

Johnston said Mainland Common would be a "great option" for dedicated courts, but would also like to see more tennis courts around the city turned into courts for both sports by adding pickleball lines.

In the meantime, councillors asked staff to explore whether any tennis courts near Castle Hill could be converted to pickleball if soundproofing material was used.

There are dozens of other outdoor pickleball courts throughout the Halifax region, but Daigle said a Castle Hill replacement is key because those other spaces are "already full."

"The demand is ever increasing and you know the number of outdoor spaces is not keeping up," Daigle said.

Regional council will make a final decision on the courts' closure at a later date.