West University Place strips pickleball from two Wier Park courts

Residents living near Wier Park in West University Place, Texas, will no longer hear the distinct popping sound of pickleball balls striking paddles on two western courts as of Oct. 23. The local government discontinued the sport on those specific surfaces after its Parks and Recreation Board recommended the change.

City staff conducted an acoustic study to measure how noise from recreational activities affects neighboring homes. The report concluded that pickleball sounds stand out more clearly to residents than the noise generated by tennis or basketball. Officials noted that these sounds become particularly noticeable during repeated play, making them a distinct factor for people living in close proximity to the parks.

The board explored physical solutions to dampen the noise before removing the sport. They considered installing sound barriers around the courts but determined the idea was unfeasible. The required height for the barriers to effectively mitigate sound, combined with the construction costs, ruled out that option.

Officials also evaluated a stricter requirement for players to use specialized quiet equipment. While this would reduce noise, the study found that these tools did not provide the same performance as standard gear. Consequently, the board chose to halt play on the two Wier Park courts rather than impose equipment rules that might frustrate players or limit their game quality.

The current rules for pickleball at Wier and Judson Parks allow play from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Existing trial conditions require players to use quieter equipment after 8 p.m. The board voted to enact these modified rules in May, and the experimental period began on June 22.

The Parks and Recreation Department plans to restripe the two discontinued pickleball courts for tennis play only. The board will discuss next steps for the parks at its Nov. 4 meeting. Until then, the modified rules remain in effect, and residents will receive notification when the court restriping work is scheduled.