The Glen Abbey Board's recent decision to authorize four permanent pickleball courts at the Linear Courts on court 11, oriented in an east/west direction, has raised significant concerns among residents. While the board has emphasized the use of quiet paddles to mitigate sound based on prior studies, there are serious gaps in addressing the noise impact on the community.

Board responsibilities under neighborhood governing documents include protecting residents from undue noise disturbances. Specifically, Article 11, Section 7 prohibits actions that cause "embarrassment, discomfort, annoyance or nuisance" to any resident in the area. Over the past year, numerous neighbors have brought to the board's attention the disruptive effects of pickleball play on the peaceful enjoyment of their properties.

Importantly, the proposed orientation of the new courts has not undergone adequate sound testing. While previous layouts were evaluated, the east/west configuration on court 11 remains untested under the specific conditions of the board’s proposal. The March 8–9 Demo Days provided only limited and flawed insights: indoor soft balls and specific quiet paddles were used, neither of which accurately reflect typical outdoor play conditions. Additionally, no sound meter readings were taken to objectively measure noise levels. Feedback from neighboring residents during the demo indicated that they perceived no meaningful reduction in noise and continued to experience significant disturbances.

It is critical for residents to voice their concerns before further decisions are made. The board's next meeting will determine whether to update the current pickleball play suspension before construction begins. If you believe that protecting the tranquility of our neighborhood is a priority, we urge you to share your perspective with the board. Together, we can ensure that decisions reflect the best interests of Glen Abbey’s residents.

Additional considerations leading us to rule out pickleball in Glen Abbey:

• Excessive Noise – All Day, Every Day: The sharp “pop” of pickleball carries far beyond the courts. Acoustical experts measure pickleball hits at around 70 dBA at 100 feet – dramatically louder than tennis (~40 dBA) . Many Glen Abbey homes are within 100–300 feet of the play, meaning they endure noise as loud as freeway traffic with each paddle hit . This easily exceeds typical noise limits (often 60 dBA daytime) set by city ordinances . In fact, a recent sound study here found that even with so-called “quiet” paddles and noise barriers, multiple homes would still suffer noise above the HOA’s own expert’s acceptable threshold . In simple terms, neighbors are subjected to a level of noise equivalent to constant office chatter or worse on their property from morning until night. This isn’t an occasional inconvenience – it’s an all-day, every-day disturbance that breaks the law and our community standards.
  
  
  

• Violation of Noise Laws and HOA Rules: Glen Abbey is not an exception to local law. City code prohibits noise over ~60 dBA in residential areas during the day (and ~55 dBA at night) . The impulsive impact noise of pickleball easily spikes well above those limits in nearby yards and inside homes . Law enforcement can cite such violations, but enforcement is inherently limited – officers must measure the noise at the right moment , and the burden falls on annoyed residents to repeatedly call in complaints. Meanwhile, our HOA’s own covenants forbid intolerable noise:  “nor shall any thing be done tending to cause embarrassment, discomfort, annoyance or nuisance to any person on any lot or the common area (article 11 section 7)”. “noxious or offensive activity” that becomes an annoyance or nuisance to others. By allowing daily pickleball commotion, the HOA is failing to uphold its obligations to protect residents. In one city, officials measured pickleball noise over 70 dB at neighbors’ homes (against a 55 dB limit) and responded by halting pickleball play altogether . We insist Glen Abbey must do the same – cease the noise at its source – rather than pretend that posted rules or goodwill can solve this.
  
  
  

• Quiet Paddles & Rules Don’t Work: The HOA Board’s only “solution” has been to suggest using “quiet” paddles, special balls, or time restrictions. Let’s be clear: these measures are unenforceable and ineffective. Quiet-design paddles can cost over $100 each and are not required in casual or league play, so many players understandably won’t buy them or might ignore the restriction. The HOA has no practical way to police paddle choices or continuously monitor noise output – there is no on-site staff ensuring compliance, and expecting neighbors to self-regulate hasn’t worked . Even if everyone used noise-reducing gear, the difference is marginal: the Board’s own study showed that with noise-dampening equipment, sound at nearby homes would still resemble constant background chatter (~60 dB) all day long . In other words, “quiet” paddles won’t bring the noise down to legal or tolerable levels – and there’s no guarantee they’ll be used at all. We cannot gamble our community’s well-being on unenforceable promises.
  
  
  

• Health and Quality of Life at Risk: This is more than a simple noise complaint – it’s about our health, comfort, and daily life. Medical and environmental experts agree that chronic noise pollution (even at moderate levels) can trigger stress, insomnia, and other health issues . Many Glen Abbey families report they cannot work from home, relax on their porch, or put children down for naps due to the relentless popping sounds. This is a suburban neighborhood, not a public sports complex; residents should not have to live with earplugs or closed windows to find relief. The situation has already led to severe frustration – one nearby homeowner was driven to retaliate by playing loud sounds back at the courts (a conflict nobody wants to see repeated). Sleep disturbance is also a concern whenever play starts early or goes into the evening; our bodies need quiet to recover, and the nighttime legal limit is just 55 dBA for good reason. Peace and quiet are fundamental to health and happiness, and Glen Abbey’s outdoor pickleball has robbed many of us of both.
  
  
  

• Property Values and Community Impact: Aside from health, our property rights are being damaged. A home is most people’s biggest investment, and its value hinges on location and quality of life. No surprise: homes next to loud pickleball courts are far less attractive to buyers. Real estate experts estimate that being adjacent to a pickleball noise source can slash property values by 10–20% in the worst cases . We’re already seeing signs of this: in communities across the country, houses near pickleball courts have lingered on the market or sold for well below asking price due to the noise issue . Prospective buyers have literally walked away upon learning about the constant noise . Even if you’re not selling your home tomorrow, these courts affect everyone’s home equity by dragging down comparative sales in the neighborhood . More immediately, they affect your enjoyment of your property – a noisy environment means you effectively lose the full use of your outdoor space. Our community amenities suffer as well: Glen Abbey’s pool and clubhouse, meant for relaxation and social gatherings, are now blanketed by pickleball noise far above acceptable levels . We did not buy homes next to a sports complex; allowing this nuisance to continue unchecked is fundamentally unfair to residents and detrimental to the entire neighborhood.
  
  
  

Better Alternatives Exist (Outside Glen Abbey): There is no need to play pickleball on our quiet residential streets – we are fortunate to have ample nearby facilities designed for this sport. Within a short drive, residents can access dozens of public pickleball courts maintained by the city and neighboring communities. For example, Alpharetta’s North Park has 12 dedicated pickleball courts open for play , Webb Bridge Park offers 6 outdoor courts , and Wills Park has 6 multi-use courts lined for pickleball . Just next door in Johns Creek, Newtown Park recently expanded to 6 pickleball courts with free open play times , and Cauley Creek Park features 5 courts with lights for evening matches . These facilities are professionally managed, away from homes, and built for pickleball – meaning players can enjoy the game without disturbing neighbors. They are also free or low-cost to use, and many offer organized lessons and leagues . In short, there is absolutely no reason pickleball must be played on Glen Abbey’s tennis courts, when off-site options abound. We encourage residents to take advantage of those alternative locations and preserve the peace in our neighborhood. Glen Abbey can remain a haven for tennis and other low-noise activities, while pickleball enthusiasts have plenty of other venues to choose from. This is a win-win solution – but it starts with permanently closing our noisy courts.

Q: “Pickleball is fun and popular – why are you trying to shut it down completely?”

A: We aren’t against pickleball as a sport; we’re against the continuous disruptive noise it creates in our residential neighborhood. Glen Abbey residents have endured months of daily pickleball noise and it has proven incompatible with the quiet atmosphere we cherish (and that our HOA rules promise us). The game’s distinctive impact sound is much louder and more piercing than other sports, and when played for hours on end it becomes a serious nuisance. It’s not just “one neighbor complaining”—it’s an entire coalition of families who have lost the ability to enjoy their own homes, yards, and even community pool due to the constant noise. We’ve concluded, after trying lesser remedies, that relocating play out of Glen Abbey is the only permanent, enforceable solution. Keep in mind, we’re not depriving anyone of pickleball altogether – numerous off-site courts are available nearby for those who want to play. Our goal is simply to restore peace and quiet in Glen Abbey while encouraging pickleball enthusiasts to use facilities that won’t harm their neighbors’ quality of life.

Q: “Is the noise really that bad? What are the actual noise levels?”

A: Yes – objective measurements show the noise is not only “annoying,” it’s beyond legal limits at nearby homes. The City of Alpharetta (and most surrounding areas) cap residential noise at ~60 dBA during daytime and ~55 dBA at night , measured at the property line. A standard pickleball paddle hitting a hard plastic ball produces about 70 dBA at a distance of 100 feet . Many homes in Glen Abbey are well within 100 feet of the courts (some as close as ~70–80 feet), so the sound on their property can be extremely intrusive – often louder than a normal conversation or a television inside the house. For comparison, pickleball noise is roughly 25+ decibels louder than tennis . Decibels are logarithmic, so even a 10 dB increase means the sound is twice as loud or more to the human ear. Now imagine that “POP!” every few seconds, multiple games at once, echoing off hard court surfaces – it’s truly unavoidable if you live nearby. Our own HOA-commissioned sound study confirmed that at several homes, the pickleball noise would exceed the 60 dB limit for hours on end . In fact, the study showed the pool area and clubhouse – central community amenities – would also be inundated with noise above acceptable levels . In summary, the noise is real, quantifiable, and violates both ordinances and neighbors’ right to quiet. This isn’t a subjective judgment; it’s backed by acoustic science and the HOA’s own data.

Q: “What laws or rules are being broken? Can’t the HOA or police enforce a noise limit?”

A: Glen Abbey is subject to both municipal noise laws and our HOA governing documents, and current pickleball play flouts both. Local law (City Code) prohibits creating noise above a certain decibel level at the neighbor’s property line – typically 60 dBA in daytime and 55 dBA at night . Persistent pickleball play, with its high-decibel impulsive pops, is routinely exceeding those limits (as measurements have shown ). That means, in principle, it’s unlawful – a ticketable offense for nuisance noise. However, enforcement is a challenge: Police or code officers would have to station themselves near the courts and measure sound levels with a meter during play. Realistically, they respond only if someone files a complaint, and even then the noise might dip momentarily or players stop by the time officials arrive. It’s not a practical long-term solution to rely on constant police intervention (and it’s unfortunate to involve law enforcement in what should be an HOA-managed issue).

On the HOA side, our Declaration of Covenants (the neighborhood rules all owners agree to) explicitly forbids any activity that unreasonably disturbs your neighbors. Most such documents have a clause against “noxious or offensive activities” or anything that becomes an annoyance to others. By allowing pickleball din to carry on daily, the HOA Board is arguably in breach of its duty to maintain a nuisance-free environment. Homeowners have even sent a formal cease-and-desist demand to the HOA, citing this covenant and the noise ordinance, putting the Board on notice that the current situation is unacceptable and illegal. We prefer to resolve this cooperatively, but if the HOA fails to act, residents could pursue legal remedies under nuisance law. Keep in mind, some cities have already stepped in on pickleball noise – for example, Centennial, CO imposed a moratorium on new pickleball courts after finding residential noise violations . We are simply asking our HOA to uphold the rules and laws that exist to protect us. Enforcing “quiet hours” or decibel limits on an ongoing basis is not realistic; the only reliable enforcement is to stop the noise at its source, by closing the courts to pickleball play.

Q: “What about using quieter paddles or balls? Can’t we mitigate the sound?”

A: Attempts at technical fixes have been made, but they fall far short of solving the problem. Quieter paddles (made with softer cores or materials) and low-noise balls do exist and can somewhat reduce the volume of each hit. However, these measures are voluntary and not enforceable in our setting. The HOA cannot practically inspect every paddle on the court, every day, to ensure compliance – and visitors or new players may not even know about such a rule. There’s also no industry standard: many approved tournament paddles still produce loud pops, and players often prefer their own equipment. Notably, Glen Abbey fields competitive pickleball teams; their required gear for league play does not meet “quiet” criteria . Even assuming everyone did use quiet gear, the noise doesn’t magically disappear. It might reduce the sharpest pitch slightly or lower the decibel peak a bit, but the characteristic noise will still carry. The HOA’s sound consultant acknowledged that even with sound-dampening paddles/balls, the average noise at nearby homes would be akin to background office noise – still a constant, invasive sound in a residential backyard . Moreover, every paddle has a “sweet spot” that maximizes the pop (and players naturally seek that out on each hit) . As long as pickleball is played, players will generate impact noise by the very physics of the game – paddle and ball material on a hard court. Minor tweaks can’t eliminate that fundamental issue.

Other mitigation ideas, like building sound walls or planting hedges, have also been considered. The Board’s study suggested a 12-foot-high acoustic fence and rows of dense hedges – which would be an ugly, costly barrier and still didn’t guarantee compliance with noise limits . In fact, sound experts warn that partial enclosures can even reflect noise upward or to other gaps, sometimes worsening the spread if not done perfectly . Plus, such structures would mar the appearance of our amenities (imagine a massive wall around the courts, blocking views). The bottom line: we cannot engineer our way out of this without essentially building a full indoor pickleball facility, which is obviously impractical. No feasible mitigation has resolved the core issue – the only way to truly abate the noise is to stop pickleball play in this location. We encourage residents to use quieter equipment in general, but it’s not a substitute for a quiet neighborhood.

Q: “Have other solutions been tried? Why not relocate the courts within Glen Abbey or restrict hours?”

A: The saga of pickleball in Glen Abbey has indeed involved multiple attempted solutions, and unfortunately, none have been workable. Originally, pickleball lines were painted on two of our existing tennis courts (Courts 10 and 11), but soon neighbors near those courts raised complaints about the noise and disruption . In response, the HOA Board explored relocating the pickleball play to a different area (at one point proposing to convert Court 1 by the clubhouse into four dedicated pickleball courts). That plan triggered even greater resident opposition, because it would have placed the noise closer to more homes and our busiest amenities (pool, playground, etc.), thus affecting an even larger number of people . A professional noise study was commissioned, and it actually reinforced residents’ fears: it showed significant noise impacts in every scenario and highlighted how many houses would be affected in any configuration. The relocation idea was ultimately shelved due to resident backlash and the clear data showing it wouldn’t solve the problem – it would simply move it. Restricting hours was also briefly attempted (e.g. “no play before X a.m. or after Y p.m.”), but this proved hard to enforce and still didn’t alleviate daytime disturbance (which is when most play occurs and neighbors want to enjoy their yards). It also led to conflicts when some players ignored the schedule. The fundamental truth is that outdoor pickleball noise is incompatible with our lot layout and density. Glen Abbey wasn’t designed to host loud sports – the amenities sit amid homes, not in isolated fields. After extensive research and exhausting other ideas, we’ve concluded that permanent closure of on-site pickleball is the only viable solution to end this cycle of disruption.

Q: “If pickleball is banned, what can players do? Are we just eliminating a community activity?”

A: We understand some neighbors enjoy pickleball and socializing around the game – our goal isn’t to deny anyone recreation, but to redirect it to a more appropriate place. Glen Abbey is fortunate to be in a city with excellent recreational facilities nearby. By discontinuing play on our HOA courts, we’re not forcing anyone to quit the sport; we’re simply asking them to utilize those off-site courts that are readily available. Alpharetta and surrounding areas have numerous options (many more than when pickleball first started here). To recap a few: North Park’s 12 pickleball courts are a short drive up Cogburn Rd ; Webb Bridge Park’s 6 courts are open in east Alpharetta ; Wills Park (just down Old Milton Pkwy) offers pickleball on its tennis courts by reservation ; and Johns Creek operates Newtown Park (6 courts) and Cauley Creek Park (5 courts), both popular and designed with buffer space for noise . There are also indoor options (local community centers) for year-round play. We will provide links and information for these facilities on our site so that interested players can easily find a time and place to play. In short, the community isn’t losing pickleball – we’re just relocating it off-site, where it belongs. Meanwhile, Glen Abbey retains plenty of amenities: our tennis program remains intact, the pool, playground, and green spaces will be more pleasant without the constant racket, and neighbors can finally converse, read, or rest outdoors in peace. This is about balance – and the current situation is not balanced. We invite pickleball players to join us in a win-win approach: support quiet neighborhoods and enjoy the sport at proper venues. Many of the folks leading this initiative are not anti-exercise (some of us play pickleball too – just not next to someone’s bedroom window!). We simply know that a little inconvenience for players (driving 5–10 minutes to a park) means a world of relief for an entire neighborhood. That trade-off is more than reasonable.