04/07/24 Parks and Recreation News 

Important changes to pickleball at Bonner Park

We wanted to share an update about pickleball play at Bonner Park. As part of our ongoing efforts to balance recreation with neighborhood livability, Bonner Park courts will now be dedicated to tennis only. This decision was made after careful consideration of:

• Feedback from nearby residents about noise impacts on their daily lives.
• Results from an acoustic study showing pickleball play likely exceeds permitted noise levels under the City Noise Ordinance.
• Player response: In 2024, Parks and Recreation introduced limited hours of play and asked players to use “quiet” equipment to reduce noise impacts. Unfortunately, these rules were widely disregarded.
• Proximity of adjacent homes (closer than recommended minimum distance for pickleball noise management).
• Research showing pickleball's unique sound characteristics can be particularly disruptive in residential settings.

Where to play pickleball

We're happy to offer these alternative locations for pickleball enthusiasts:

• MRL Park (South Ave. and Johnson St.) - Open on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Fort Missoula Regional Park - First-come, first-served, with reservations available for courts 1-3 starting April 15 ($5.25/hour, bookable one week in advance).

Exciting news!

Coming to the Playfair Park tennis facility this summer: Lines and nets for four new pickleball courts! Court lines and portable nets will be installed by late July or early August (weather and contractor scheduling permitting).

We appreciate your understanding and continued support of our community recreation spaces!