At the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Board’s meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21, are from left: Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Larry Plummer and Board members Steve Haines, Larry Ladd and Jill Beehler. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Warsaw Parks and Recreation Board and resident Judy Heiman are continuing to work towards a solution for the pickleball noise at Kelly Park.

Heiman, who lives near Kelly Park, first came before the board in September to voice a complaint about the sound, mentioning it had affected her quality of life. At October’s meeting at which Heiman wasn’t present, the board heard from parks’ department staff that decibel levels from Kelly Park pickleball play didn’t measure high.

At Tuesday, Nov. 21’s meeting, Heiman appeared again. She noted it wasn’t the volume of the sound which bothered her, but its repetitiveness.

“It’s more of a pitch. It’s noisy and it’s continuous,” she said.

Heiman said she was “not here to try to make it difficult for these people,” referring to pickleball players.

“But we’ve got to compromise here somewhere that we both can share the space,” she said.

Parks’ staff had talked with one of Heiman’s neighbors who said the noise didn’t concern them. Heiman said the staff had spoken with a neighbor who wasn’t outside much.

She said she had friends who played pickleball who said they wouldn’t want to reside near a court.

Heiman asked if a noise study had been completed before the courts were put in.

“There were no noise studies done. I mean pickleball was a relatively new sport when these were put in, and I don’t think that was even considered when courts where put in anywhere,” said Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Larry Plummer.

Heiman and the board discussed a few solutions. Those include having an acoustics expert weigh in solutions for the courts and putting in a 10-foot fence between the pickleball and tennis courts with soundproof paneling.

Heiman said she’d like to see playtime restricted somewhat still, more around 8 or 9 p.m.

No final decisions were made at the meeting.

In other business, the board:

• Heard from Plummer a ribbon-cutting for Center Lake Recreational Trail is noon Monday, Dec. 11. It’s finished now aside from a few minor things, he said.
• Agreed to not raise campground rates for 2024. Derrick Avery, who is a regular camper at Pike Lake Campground, thanked the board for not hiking prices.
• Did agree to charge Kosciusko Senior Services $150 more per month for their use of the Pete Thorn Center as the current lease doesn’t cover rising utility costs.
• Heard tickets for the Daddy’s Little Sweetheart Dance would go on sale at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3. The dance with the theme of “Denim and Diamonds” would be at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion on Friday, Feb. 2, and Saturday, Feb. 3.
• Heard Maintenance Laborer Chris Holsclaw was the parks’ department’s team member of the month for October.

Maintenance Laborer Chris Holsclaw, right, is the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department’s team member of the month for October. With him is Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Larry Plummer. Photo provided.