SMITHFIELD – Noise from pickleball games at the new Willow Field Pickleball Courts is a sensitive issue, as was on full display Tuesday as the Town Council postponed action on approving new sound-calming fencing.
Councilors say they want to get feedback with neighbors before proceeding on spending nearly $50,000 on town-recommended fencing and sound-absorbing panels.
Public Works Director Gene Allen and Town Manager Robert Seltzer presented two proposed spending items totaling some $46,000:
• A contract with United Fence and Construction Corp. of Johnston to install chain-link fencing for $26,400, to be funded through capital reserve funds;
• And a contract with SLN/CR Panels for a sole source purchase of noise absorbent panels, at a cost of $19,613, also from capital reserves.
Officials explained that the measures are intended to drop decibel readings from about 70 to 50, so there’s less noise leaving the field. They said they feel this will do the best job of solving the ongoing issue for neighbors of the courts in a mostly residential neighborhood.
Councilor Rachel Toppi said they spent some $5,100 on a study, and she questioned spending $46,000 on solutions that don’t meet the sound specifications from that study.
Seltzer said they based their recommendation on this being the best material with the lowest decibel reading, and they’re looking at the best solution that made the most sense based on all of their research and findings. Using lightweight material will allow them to make the fence higher without needing additional measures to stabilize it, he said.
Seltzer said perhaps councilors can explain to neighbors why this will be delayed, as he’s about at the end of his rope when it comes to getting nasty emails. He said it needs to be taken care of, and soon.
Councilor Angelica Bovis asked if neighbors are OK with the solution being offered, and Seltzer said they didn’t ask, but the bottom line is that neighbors want reduced noise that they can live with. Bovis said she doesn’t want to solve one issue and create another, and adding a 20-foot fence in people’s backyards, if it’s ugly, won’t go over well.
“Are we going to build a pickleball court and an ugly fence in their backyard? She asked. Toppi then said she totally agrees with that assessment.
Seltzer said they can poll neighbors if councilors would like, and Bovis responded that she just wants to make sure neighbors are happy. She said she’s not as concerned about financial aspects of the changes, as Councilor Michael Iannotti was, but she is concerned about aesthetics. She asked if they might be able to see a rendering of what the fencing might look like.
Allen explained that the fencing will be combined with a new dirt and gravel berm with grass planted on top.
Bovis said she would like to solve the problem for both pickleballers and neighbors, but doesn’t want to create new problems, which is why she would like to talk to neighbors and make sure they have no issue with the materials to be used.
The council then postponed action on the two spending items to September.
