Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Pickleball courts at Kinsmen Park near Woodbine Street are pictured Thursday morning, July 27. Rajnish and Harpreet Dhawan, who live directly behind the pickleball courts, bought their Woodbine Street home in 2017 and saw the city build these pickleball courts in 2019. The Dhawans have ended their hunger strike after two days with no apparent solution, and say they will continue protesting the noise from the nearby pickleball courts.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Pickleball noise at Kinsmen Park

City of Chilliwack says it has taken steps to mitigate pickleball noise at Kinsmen Park

Jul 27, 2023 | 12:32 PM

CHILLIWACK — Even though Chilliwack residents Rajnish and Harpreet Dhawan have ended their hunger strike, the City of Chilliwack says it has taken steps to help mitigate noise at the Kinsmen Park pickleball courts.

According to a statement released Thursday by the city, Mayor Ken Popove says the city has restricted pickleball sessions at Kinsmen Park from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., added signage about utilizing foam balls, and closed the pickleball courts for several months at a time.

The Dhawans, who live on Woodbine Street backing onto Kinsmen Park and the nearby pickleball courts, told media outlets this week they will continue protesting the noise behind their home despite ending their two-day hunger strike after approximately 50 hours. They had mounted signs on public property accusing the city of being discriminatory towards them and said the noise contributed to a host of health issues. They began their hunger strike on Sunday, July 23 and ended it on Tuesday, July 25.

Meanwhile, city staff have reached out to local sports stores asking that they stock foam balls for pickleball enthusiasts, and have recommended that pickleball players use only foam balls after 4 p.m. at Kinsmen Park.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Pickleball signage at Kinsmen Park. The city has implemented multiple solutions to accommodate concerns about pickleball-related noise from Woodbine Street residents Rajnish and Harpreet Dhawan, including asking pickleball players to use foam balls only after 4 p.m.

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Over the winter, starting November 1, Popove says the city closed the pickleball courts. The courts were scheduled to reopen in March 2023, but staff delayed the opening until April at the neighbour’s request.

Further, the city installed what it calls sound-attentuating material to reduce sound levels heard outside of the courts.

“As it was only recently installed, the intention has been to monitor its effectiveness and review other alternatives if it is not successful,” Mayor Ken Popove said in a statement.

Due to the sport’s growing popularity, Chilliwack city council has approved funding for an indoor pickleball facility at another location.

“We are in the planning stage of the project, and anticipate it will be available for use in 2024,” Popove wrote in a statement. “We plan to close the outdoor courts at Kinsmen Park at Portage once additional playing space is available. We know that a large group of Chilliwack residents enjoy playing pickleball and we continue to work hard to balance the various needs of everyone in our community.”

Fraser Valley Today spoke with two Kinsmen Park neighbours, Irene and Carol, Thursday morning. Both said they had no problems with the noise nor the pickleball courts themselves. Irene said she had lived in her Kinsmen Park home, which backs onto grass near the tennis courts, since 1966.