Pickleball 101
Pickleball has become – well…popular.
Legend has it that pickleball was created in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, at a summer cottage owned by congressman Joel Pritchard, by 3 vacationing dads to occupy their restless kids.
While there are 2 popular versions of the story, the more “cuddly” one is that the game was named after Pickles, the Prichard's family dog, who would chase after the balls.
The more likely version is that Joan Pritchard, the matriarch of the family, named it for “pickle boats” – a reference to rowers in crew in which a mismatched group of non-varsity members would “compete in a more casual rowing competition” after the main event.
It occurred to Joan that the game, based on a hybrid of tennis, badminton, ping-pong and volleyball, was reminiscent of the “mismatched” rowers of the “pickle boat”.
No question, any activity that motivates people to get moving and promotes a healthy lifestyle is a great thing, right?
A little background.
Pickleball's popularity has been on the rise and started to take root in an organic fashion at Provincetown's Chelsea Earnest Memorial Playground on Nickerson Street in the West End. The basketball court established in the mid-1950s was more recently co-opted by enthusiastic pickleball players who even brought their own nets (as reported by the Provincetown Independent in 2021). Subsequently, the Recreation Commision sanctioned pickleball play here – painting the courts and setting hours. The unplanned side effect in this densely populated area was the noise impact on the neighborhood – and the swift disapproval of abutting residents.
It's loud
As the Provincetown Recreation Director, Brandon Motta, said to a reporter from the The Provincetown Independent (10/27/2021) “It is really loud” and in the 9/27/2022 Select Board Hearing reiterated that “It’s a very loud sport” (Provincetown TV – hour 02:12:47).
A member of the Recreation Commission and champion of pickleball play at the Nickerson Street Court stated: There's noise everywhere in Provincetown....that's why people live in Truro if they want quiet. (Provincetown TV – hour 02:23:27)
The repetitive sound of thwack, thwack, thwack 7 to 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, when introduced at the Nickerson Street court, literally traumatized residents in the area. Google: “psychology of sound”.
The Town, it's policy-makers and residents, made positive steps to find a more permanent home where players can fully enjoy the game and (in theory) residents would not be bothered by the noise.
The Jerome Smith parking area was resurfaced with 4 courts and opened for play on July 6, 2023.
The West End Chelsea Memorial Courts at Nickerson Street were closed to pickleball on July 6, 2023.
Motta Field, with several shared tennis/pickleball courts, has been re-envisioned as part of the overall Master Plan (details below). Abutting neighbors have expressed concern about noise at this location.
Provincetown Recreation Department Pickleball In Provincetown
July 13, 2023 — Jerome Smith Courts
Image from July 2023. Check the Provincetown Recreation Department Official Hours and Rules.
Updates
Provincetown 2023 Spring Town Meeting, 4/3/2023
YouTubeResident: ...the Nickerson courts...would they be shut down and turned back to basketball courts or what's the plan?
Mr. Morse: If this were to be passed, then the recommendation would be to return it just to basketball and pickleball would not be allowed on Nickerson.
FY 2024 Capital Improvements Program, Article 9AA: Pickleball Courts at Jerome Smith Lot , (Page C6)
YouTube Presentation (Minute 35:40).
Alex Morse, Town Manager, described the proposed pickleball courts at the Jerome Smith Lot (adjacent to the new Police Department). He indicated that the courts at Chelsea Earnest Memorial Playground (on Nickerson Street) would return to just basketball.
It would construct up to 4 pickleball courts, if this was to move forward, we would make a recommendation to the Rec' Commission that the court on Nickerson return just to basketball. The pickleball courts at Nickerson are directly next to abutters properties. The closest abutter for these courts is over 200 feet, in compliance and further away from a residential neighborhood.
Questions were posed regarding noise from pickleball play at the proposed courts affecting the new Police Station and the future 100 residences planned for the neighborhood. Mr. Morse indicated that the courts as currently envisioned would not have dedicated lighting for nighttime play.
Jerome Smith Pickleball Diagram - 2/23/2023
Motta Field Master Plan Presentation | Motta Field Master Plan June 2023
Scheme 1
Scheme 2
Strong winds toppled fencing and Acoustifence® 11/24/2023