Pickleball

structor in Torrance. “Instead, work with the Torrance pickleball community to come up with a less restrictive solution that works for everyone.”

Pickleball, a sport invented in 1965 that is often described as resembling tennis, badminton and pingpong, has been growing in popularity in recent years. There were around 4.8 million pickleball players in the U.S. in 2022, according to a report by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

The sport experienced a jump in popularity during the pandemic, when many people turned to outdoor activities to stay active.

It is especially popular among older adults because it's easy to learn and allows them to socialize. But it's also gaining traction among younger demographics.

The sound of pickleball paddles striking the ball, however, can be loud. For this reason, complaints about pickleball noise have been reported in various communities across the country.

Various parks in Torrance offer pickleball courts. Walteria Park and Sur La Brea Park offer multiple court each. Wilson Park has two outdoor ones and six temporary courts. And there are plans to install additional courts at Columbia Park, said Torrance Community Services Director John La Rock.

“This is a new field of

sport,” he said, “and the popularity and participation now far exceeds the technology to make it amenable to all involved.”

Both Sur La Brea Park and Wilson Park are located in District 4, where some residents have expressed concerns about the noise caused by pickleballs. Councilmember Sharon Kalani, who represents the area, asked players to be mindful of the residents who live near the courts.

“The fact that there's so much visibility about this across the United States, tells us that there is something that needs to be addressed,” Kalani said, “and I hope that we're all honest in thinking that.

“We just can't continue to not be thoughtful of the people that are living close to the courts.”

The 500-foot distance appears to be the generally recognized distance within the industry, La Rock said.

“While there is no single study that we can point to to say 500 feet is your sweet spot,” he said, “it seems to be the aggregate distance that we have acknowledged through the industry that is solving some problems in some communities.”

Cutting it down from 500 feet to 250 feet is a compromise between pickleball players and the residents, officials said. Councilmember Aurelio Mattucci made the motion for the 250-foot distance.

“I guess the reason is because we are exploring new locations,” Mattucci said during the Tuesday City Council meeting, “so I think setting a standard tonight would be beneficial.”