Opinion/Your Turn: Falmouth Town Meeting should oppose limiting pickleball. Here's why.
Back in the day, playing sports, games and a variety of activities with your neighborhood friends in the streets, and wherever there was a field, was the norm and accepted. No doubt life has changed. The sounds of neighbors playing pickleball are considered by some to be an irritant. I understand that the sound of pickleball can be extremely irritating to some. Class action suits against the sport have popped up all over the country.
In Falmouth, the courts at the Lawrence school, which is shared with tennis, basketball and pickleball have been closed for over a year. No one is a winner here!
The benefits of playing pickleball have been cited in numerous health magazines, which include; increased socialization for the elderly, and better overall health to name a few. Youngsters playing outdoors rather than being indoors on their cellphones and computer games is also a benefit!
At the Nov.13 town meeting, Falmouth residents who enjoy pickleball face a reduction in the availability of courts. The painting over of lines on a shared court with tennis at Swift Park in West Falmouth at a proposed cost of $44K is on the town warrant. This action, if approved would limit pickleball play to only 4 courts in Nye Park in North Falmouth for approximately 600 plus pickleball players.
Due to the shortage of courts in Falmouth, as previously stated, we have set up a court in our driveway to play the sport. We play in the morning and afternoon with up to 10 players. We play on average 4 times a week.
This letter is written to highlight how my neighbors have reacted to our enjoying this “fastest growing sport”! One of my neighbors stopped mowing his lawn as he was afraid that the “sound” of his lawnmower would disturb our game. Apparently, the pinging sound of the ball has not affected his health.
Another neighbor made it a point to offer her driveway to park our cars. It should be noted that neither of these people play the sport. Other neighbors stroll by each morning as they walk their dogs and exchange hellos and dog biscuits. People drive by with a smile and a wave. One of our neighbors who doesn’t play had a relative visiting from Kansas City. She felt comfortable enough to ask if she could join our game, and of course, we said sure.
My neighbors’ homes are less than the recommended distance, as noted by our town manager of where courts should be to minimize the noise factor. My neighbors don’t focus on the sound of the ball, but rather the sound of people having fun.
A big shout out to my neighbors in East Falmouth for continuing to show support for our playing this sport that promotes good health. This is an excellent example of how neighbors should treat each other with respect. The neighborly way … the way it used to be.
Sharon Cogliano, East Falmouth
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Opinion: Falmouth Town Meeting should not limit access to pickleball
