Long Island Town Bans Building of Pickleball Courts Over Noise Concerns

Glen Cove officials place three-month moratorium on new pickleball courts amid complaints from wealthy residents about the loud popping sounds

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The ritzy Long Island town of Glen Cove has temporarily banned residents from building pickleball courts on their properties due to concerns over the loud noises the sport produces. City officials have placed a three-month moratorium on new pickleball court construction as they work to develop guidelines to regulate the facilities, which have become increasingly popular among the town's deep-pocketed residents.

Why it matters

The pickleball boom has led to a rise in noise complaints from residents living near the courts, with some going to extreme measures like installing soundproofing to block the loud popping sounds. Glen Cove's moratorium highlights the growing tensions between pickleball enthusiasts and nearby homeowners, as the sport's rapid growth continues to cause disruptions in communities across the country.

The details

Glen Cove Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck said the city placed the temporary ban in order to give officials time to assess the situation and determine appropriate guidelines for new pickleball courts. She noted that the courts "create a lot of noise and bother" due to the hard ball used, unlike the quieter tennis balls. Residents who want to build courts on their own properties have flooded the city with permit requests, prompting the moratorium. Similar noise complaints have been reported in other communities, with some towns like Carmel, California going as far as banning pickleball entirely.

  • The Glen Cove City Council enacted the three-month moratorium on new pickleball courts last week.

The players

Pamela Panzenbeck

The mayor of Glen Cove, who announced the temporary ban on new pickleball courts in the town.

Carole Kling

A Ridgewood, New Jersey resident who spent $38,000 to soundproof her home to escape noise from a nearby pickleball court.

Joanne Archer

A 74-year-old pickleball player who believes the sport is "a gift to us".

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What they’re saying

“Pickleball courts, they're not like tennis courts, they create a lot of noise and bother — it's a hard ball, it makes a very loud sound, not like a tennis ball.”

— Pamela Panzenbeck, Mayor of Glen Cove (nypost.com)

“It sounds like somebody shooting an AK.”

— Carole Kling (nypost.com)

“Pickleball is a gift to us.”

— Joanne Archer, 74-year-old pickleball player (nypost.com)

What’s next

Glen Cove officials plan to use the three-month moratorium to develop new regulations and guidelines for pickleball courts in the town.

The takeaway

The pickleball boom is causing growing tensions in communities as the sport's loud noises disrupt nearby residents, leading some towns to take drastic measures like banning the construction of new courts. This highlights the need for local governments to balance the interests of pickleball enthusiasts and affected homeowners as the sport's popularity continues to surge nationwide.