Lisle trustees reject request for noise ordinance exemption to limit pickleball hours

Lisle trustees aren't supportive of removing an exemption from the village noise ordinance to limit the hours pickleball could be played at Abbeywood Park.

Vitas Matulyauskas, who lives within yards of the park, made the request at a recent board meeting. The noise exception he objected to includes "the authorized use of recreational facilities within the property of schools, colleges, and public parks between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m."

Matulyauskas is upset about the noise caused by pickleball players who use the courts at Abbeywood Park early in the morning and later at night.

Village officials disagreed with the request. Eliminating the exception, they said, would limit recreational opportunities in the village and may lead to complaints about basic noise such as bouncing basketballs, a bat hitting a ball or cheers from spectators.

"While I understand the homeowners who have been very concerned and stressed about the pickleball noise, I very much agree with what staff has presented, that this can very much be a slippery slope," said Village Trustee Mary Jo Mullen. "The exemptions are written there for a purpose."

The issue of pickleball noise at Abbeywood Park has lingered for months. Dan Garvy, director of parks and recreation at the Lisle Park District, said numerous attempts have been made to forge a compromise, including an offer to add soundproofing panels to the fences surrounding the courts.

Matulyauskas rejected the offer, saying the suggested type of panels would be only partly effective. He also said the panels would damage views of the park and there would be a safety issue because they're not see-through.

Garvy said the clear, polycarbonate panels requested by Matulyauskas would cost three-to-10 times as much as the ones the park district proposed.

The park district also put up a sign at the Abbeywood Park pickleball courts noting the hours of 8 a.m. to sunset, and not 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. as the ordinance dictates. The sign encourages the use of "quiet" paddles and asks for visitors to not play loud music.

"I believe the park board has been very receptive to Mr. Matulyauskas (and the other two neighbors who have complained about the noise) while also trying to balance the overwhelming demand from our pickleball community," Garvy said in an email.