March 12, 2025 By Carol Britton Meyer
Following a lengthy discussion about the proposed $2.03 million pickleball courts near Carlson Field last week and taking time to consider all that was said, two select board members voted this week to support the project, which includes sound mitigation.
Board member William Ramsey recused himself because his wife is on the recreation commission, which is requesting Town Meeting’s support for this warrant article.
No comments were accepted from abutters — who have repeatedly voiced their noise, traffic, and other concerns — or other citizens due to the lengthy discussion last week, when many people were heard on both sides of the issue.
Board members Joseph Fisher and Liz Klein also supported the community preservation committee’s recommendation to fund $758,640 of the total cost of the 12 courts out of the town’s Community Preservation Act funds.
Fisher said that after reading extensive information provided by the recreation commission and neighbors, he came to the decision that “there is a demand and a need for pickleball courts in town.”
‘It’s up to the board to ensure safeguards are in place’
At the same time, both Fisher and Klein feel strongly that they have a role to play because the location of the proposed courts is on town land.
“It’s up to this board to ensure safeguards are in place to minimize the sound impacts on neighbors and with the appropriate oversight,” Fisher said.
In supporting what she called “a place for the community to gather” — referring to the pickleball courts — Klein emphasized that “this is not a done deal. There are many more steps in the process.”
The planning board will review the proposal, taking into consideration parking, traffic, and other issues, Klein explained, with opportunity for public input. She further noted that noise issues aren’t directly under the planning board’s purview and reiterated Fisher’s comments that the board will do its part.
“We didn’t invent pickleball,” Klein said. “We’re not the first community. There’s a lot of data we can learn from out there. We want [this proposal] to be a great situation for the entire community.”
The advisory committee will also review the article and decide whether or not to support it.
For further details, go to https://www.hinghamanchor.com/following-robust-discussion-this-week-select-board-puts-off-pickleball-courts-vote-until-next-meeting/
Citizen’s petition vote delayed
In other business at the meeting, the board postponed a vote on the citizen’s petition filed by Crow Point resident Michael Kranzley and others that was discussed last week to amend the part of the town’s noise control bylaw related to the hours of operation of tools and equipment used in construction, demolition, or commercial landscaping work in a residential district.
“We’re asking Town Meeting to amend this bylaw to change the hours allowed for [these activities] to Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. [from the current 7 p.m.], none on Sundays [from the current 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.] and national holidays, and to remain the same Monday through Friday [7 a.m. to 7 p.m.],” he told the board earlier.
Kranzley attended this week’s meeting to answer any questions the board might have.
The petition was submitted because of the current often seven-days-a-week noise impacts on Kranzley and many other neighbors from nearly constant landscaping and construction noise due to tremendous growth in their neighborhood in past years. The goal is to allow neighbors more time free of these kinds of noises on Saturdays after 5 p.m. and on Sundays.
After a brief discussion, Kranzley agreed to work with town counsel to ensure the warrant article is worded appropriately to achieve the citizen’s petition’s goal.
At the same time, Fisher expressed concern that other Hingham citizens, landscapers, and others whom an amended bylaw would affect haven’t had enough time to present their views about the proposed amendment.
Town Administrator Tom Mayo plans to post information publicly about the board’s May 18 meeting, when the discussion will continue, with opportunity for public input.
The Hingham police, which deals with noise complaints, enforces the bylaw.
“It’s tough to enforce it,” Ramsey noted, “but usually the people involved comply [when an incident occurs].”