A Chilliwack resident is planning a hunger strike to end the excessive noise that comes from the pickleball court in Kinsmen Park, located less than 20 feet away from their home.

Rajnish Dhawan will be holding a hunger strike at the court beginning on July 23.

“I'm just doing a peaceful protest. I'm not stopping anybody from playing, I'm gonna sit in the court, I'm going to put banners up there that this is a hunger strike,” he explains. “The plan is that I will continue a 12 hour hunger strike every day for a week. If they don't (take action), I'll go on the 36 hour one,” Dhawan says. “If they (the pickle ball courts) still don't go (away), I'll go on an indefinite one. I just want them to give me an answer.”

According to Dhawan, the pickleball court was placed in a former green space in Kinsmen Park with little to no consultation with the public. A representative of the City of Chilliwack says that there was consultation when the park was first pitched in 2018. Dhawan confirms this, but adds that that consultation was for a general sports park primarily for basketball, hockey, and soccer, not for pickleball, which has a higher sound decibel than the other sports.

In 2018, a pickleball court was consulted and researched at a location in Yarrow, that was later turned away due to members of the public and council voicing their concern of noise and hours of operation. Later, the pickleball courts were attached to the Kinsmen Park project.

In August 2022, Dhawan sent a complaint to the City of Chilliwack about the noise that, according to Dhawan, has had little response and action. Since his complaint, bylaws have been created requiring that players must use softer balls after 4 p.m., but Dhawan claims that rule is not enforced, and that members of the Chilliwack Pickleball Club have made unsolicited visits to his home, offering to soundproof a room in his home. After refusing the offer, Dhawan says he and his wife have faced community backlash and discrimination from the pickleballers.

The City of Chilliwack confirmed via email that in response to the complaints surrounding the court, staff have made changes which include:

• Restricting times of play at the court from 9am until dusk.
• Installing signage recommending that after 4pm, practice foam balls should be used. Staff also reached out to local sports stores requesting that they stock foam balls for local pickleball enthusiasts.
• Installing a soundproofing barrier around the court.

Dhawan says that these changes still have yet to be implemented; he plans on going the hunger strike until the courts are decommissioned or another location is provided.

CIVL Radio reached out to the Chilliwack Pickleball Club for comment, but the club did not respond before the story was published.

Similar noise concerns surrounding pickleball courts have popped up across the province since the sport’s growth. Community members in Saanich, Port Moody, and North Vancouver, have had similar concerns and complaints about the racket. The respective city municipalities have either banned the sport outdoors, or have strictly enforced bylaws to keep the noise levels at a minimum. 

The City of Chilliwack affirms that council has approved funding for an indoor pickleball facility that is projected to be available in 2024. The city also expresses their continued support for those who are affected by the noise.

“We know that a large group of Chilliwack residents enjoy playing pickleball and we continue to work hard to balance the various needs of everyone in our community. If the resident is being discriminated against, we would encourage them to contact the RCMP.”

But Dhawan remains unsatisfied with the response.

“The city did not do any due diligence before putting the courts up. The main thing is simple. We're Canadians, right? We're known for saying sorry. You made a mistake. You have realized that it's a mistake. Say sorry and rectify it. Simple. Saanich did it. Port Moody did it. Victoria did it. Mission did it. Vancouver did it.  I have a text message from the Vancouver Pickleball Association where they said, ‘we recommend a distance of at least 100 meters from the residents.’

If Saanich can make guidelines. That pickleball court should be at least 100 meters or 65 meters with noise. If Port Moody can do that, if Mission can do that, why can't Chilliwack do the same?”

National Pickleball Day bounces on Aug. 13.

Listen to the CIVL story below: