Residents seek noise solutions as pickleball grows on Marco Island

MARCO ISLAND, Fla. (WINK) - Pickleball is booming across the nation, and it's no different on Marco Island.

"It's a great community, and it's great exercise, and I just love it," said Matt Weimer, a local resident and avid pickleball player. "It's an addictive sport. It's pretty crazy."

However, the sport's popularity has raised concerns about noise for residents like David and Carla Cadwell. They shared their frustrations about the constant noise coming from the City of Marco Island Racquet Center courts at one of our WINK Listens events.

"You just hear a constant pinging, ponging noise that is just, it's irritating," said David. "You can't avoid it."

WINK News reporter Camila Pereira visited the Cadwells and heard the loud noise echoing from the courts, into the neighborhood, and into their home.

The Cadwells explained that the current nine courts are already noisy, and there are talks within the city council to expand them.

"We're complaining about the nine and the noise," said Carla. "They want to expand to 24."

WINK News spoke with Darrin Palumbo, the city council chairman, about the possibility of an expansion.

"I'll be very honest, I'm personally leaning towards not increasing any density of pickleball in that center until we figure out what type of noise suppression would really work or work well enough to where we could say to the neighbors, 'We believe we've given you enough,'" said Palumbo.

Both pickleball players and neighbors are hoping for a peaceful solution.

"My sympathies go out to the neighbors and the folks that don't play pickleball because it is a noisy sport," Weimer said. "You can hear it from, you know, a half a block away."

The Cadwells, they just want to find a way for everyone to enjoy paradise together.

"We're not pickleball haters," said Carla. "We just don't want the noise in our backyard. That's all we're asking for."