The Boone County Fiscal Court has approved a bid for the construction of eight pickleball courts at Union Park. Photo provided | Ben Hershey via Unsplash

Cold Spring City Council approved the budget Monday night to build six new pickleball courts in a section of Municipal Park.

The motion to approve the budget and subsequent vote came after a presentation from Don Seibert, USA pickleball ambassador in Northern Kentucky. Seibert is also a Cold Spring resident and served on the Cold Spring City Council from 1979-1985.

Cold Spring resident and USA PIckleball Ambassador for NKY, Don Seibert provides pickleball equipment for attendees of the Cold Spring city council meeting as part of his presentation to the council. Photo by Shannon Paul | LINK nky

“Pickleball is the fastest growing sport because it’s all inclusive,” shared Seibert as he told the story of teaching his five-year-old grandson how to play the game, followed by a story of a gentleman who played pickleball as he celebrated his 93rd birthday. “I don’t think there’s a better investment for parks and recreation that will benefit all of the citizens of Cold Spring more than pickleball.”

In a previous council meeting, a resident shared concerns about loud noise levels for those neighborhoods nearest to the proposed area of the park were noted.

However, Seibert said his research of noise levels for pickleball play and ambient noise near the proposed location for the courts in Cold Spring indicated that sound should not be problematic for residents.

The sound of outdoor play on a pickleball court is approximately 70-90 decibels with a 6-decibel reduction for every fifty feet from the source of the noise. For comparison, ambient sound in suburban cities like Cold Spring is approximately 30-50 decibels. The closest street to the proposed location for the courts was 64.5 decibels when Seibert tested ambient sound in the area last week, mostly from nearby US 27 and Ripple Creek roads.

Council previously received bids from multiple contractors for four and six pickleball courts in the designated area. Councilmember Paul Kloeker moved to award the lowest bid to build six pickleball courts, $252,750 for construction.

Cold Spring city countil Members Lisa Cavanaugh and Christopher Ampfer survey pickleball equipment at April 24 meeting. Photo by Shannon Paul | LINK nky

“I think it’s good to get more of our citizens involved in athletics,” said councilmember Adam Sandfoss, noting the potential impact on health.

Councilmember Lisa Cavanaugh agreed.

“The presentation was informative and educational,” Cavanaugh said. “I may just pick up pickleball myself.”