Councillors Seek Balance Between Play and Peace
Toronto city councillors say it may be time to quiet the courts. A motion passed this week directs staff to study noise restrictions for pickleball — a fast-growing sport whose signature “popping” sound has sparked complaints in some neighbourhoods.
Coun. Ausma Malik, who brought the motion forward, says she understands both sides. “As one of the fastest-growing sports in Toronto, we want everyone to enjoy it — but we also want neighbours to live with it,” she said.
Since the pandemic, pickleball has exploded in popularity. A January 2025 Pickleball Canada survey found 1.5 million Canadians now play, including nearly 600,000 in Ontario.
From Fun to Frustration in City Parks
Malik said her office received a letter from 20 households near the Trinity Bellwoods Park courts complaining about the repetitive, high-pitched sound of play. “It’s very distinct and disruptive,” she said.
Toronto joins other cities grappling with the same issue. Ottawa recently introduced time restrictions on play and moved some courts farther from homes, while parts of B.C. have adopted similar approaches.
Ottawa councillor David Hill said the changes have largely worked: “Complaints have dropped dramatically. Now the demand is for more courts.”
Players and Clubs Push for Solutions
Ian Campbell, president of Pickleball Ontario, said participation in the province has more than doubled in two years, from 14,000 to over 30,000 members. Clubs are testing quieter paddles, low-impact balls, and sound-dampening fences.
“What some residents consider noise,” Campbell wrote, “is to others simply the sound of people enjoying themselves.”
John Cameron, head of the Etobicoke Pickleball Association, says his 2,000-member group hasn’t faced any noise issues. “We don’t start too early or play too late,” he said. “It’s just being considerate.”
City Responds to Rapid Growth
City staff told CBC Toronto that they’ve received 20 noise complaints since 2024, compared with none before. To meet demand, Toronto is upgrading 25 pickleball courts city-wide and will open a 12-court complex in Centennial Park next year.
Malik’s motion asks staff to include potential noise regulations in the city’s broader review of recreational facilities. No date has been set for the final report.
