RIDGEWOOD — Will a second layer of sound-reducing panels change the East Glen Avenue pickleball court's noise level from PING-PING to pong-pong?

The Village Council agreed at a special hearing Tuesday that it needed two more weeks to decide whether it should spend $23,980 on a second layer of soundproofing panels for the fence surrounding the four courts near Glen School.

Neighbors around the courts contend that one layer is not enough, and playing hours have been restricted as a result, over protests from players.

Parks and Recreation Director Nancy Bigos made the proposal, saying 85 4-by-10-foot padded fiberglass panels would surround the fence's outer perimeter. This would supplement similar panels installed inside the fence last year in response to complaints from the residential neighborhood.

Bigos said the panels have a noise reduction coefficient value of 1.05, higher than the 0.75 value for the existing panels.

However, Mayor Susan Knudsen said she had talked to Ron Williams of Vibration Products Inc. in Columbus, Ohio, where the panels are manufactured, and that he said the panels were "not appropriate" for the proposed use.

"He said in all likelihood they will not help in any way," Knudsen said. "He said the only way to reduce the noise was a wall around the court the height of the second floor of surrounding homes, or put a roof on it." 

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Councilwoman Lorraine Reynolds questioned the soundproofing rating, saying materials she was emailed by Williams showed that the proposed panels have the same value as those already installed. She said she, too, was told the panels were intended for "construction and commercial use" and that the owner had "no clue this will work."

"I wanted to hear him tell me that yes, they've installed this on other pickleball courts and it works and everybody's happy," Reynolds said. "He said the added panels were not going to help."

Councilman Paul Vagianos said he had walked the perimeter of the courts while they were in use and considered the current panels to have "more than adequate" sound absorption properties. However, he said, the second layer of panels "will only make it better."

"The sound was negligible," Vagianos said. "The kids laughing were louder than the pickleball."

Pickleball is America's fastest-growing sport, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, and is particularly popular among older adults. It is played on adapted tennis courts using paddles and hard plastic balls that create more noise than tennis balls do. 

Councilman Mike Sedon suggested taking a two-week hiatus to study the issue and continuing the discussion at the March 9 meeting.

Marsha Stoltz is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.