San Francisco venture capitalist husband Karl Peterson and his wife Holly are facing an unexpected hurdle in their quest to sell their $36 million home.
Environmental Assessment
Their real estate agent has revealed that a potential buyer was deterred by the noise emanating from a nearby public pickleball court, even though the property itself includes a pickleball court in its yard.
In response to this issue, Mrs. Peterson initiated a petition on Thursday, calling for an environmental assessment of the nearby Presidio Wall public pickleball courts due to noise concerns.
The San Francisco Standard reports that she has yet to provide any comments or responses to requests for further information regarding the petition or its objectives.
Her petition read, “The endless racket [from the pickleball games] threatens the fragile ecosystem and our community’s prestige. This isn’t just about us — it’s about preserving nature for future generations.”
Pickleball Enthusiasts
The petition seeks to halt pickleball activities at the Presidio Wall courts immediately. It also advocates for a comprehensive Environmental Impact Report to thoroughly evaluate the noise’s effects on the surrounding park environment.
Steve Mavromihalis, the Petersons’ real estate agent from Compass, noted the couple themselves are pickleball enthusiasts, as evidenced by their having their own court on their property. The real estate’s website listing has the mansion on the market at $36 million.
However, their primary concern lies with the continuous dawn-to-dusk pickleball games at the 12-court Presidio Wall. They assert that local residents needed to be adequately informed about the establishment of these courts and the potential noise impacts they would generate.
“A Reasonable Solution”
Co-petitioner Mary Tesluk said she, Peterson, and city officials are trying to reach “a reasonable solution that considers everyone’s well-being and looks out for [the Presidio’s] wildlife.”
A San Francisco Recreation and Parks spokesperson said city officials are working with Presidio Heights residents and pickleball players. They state that “these neighborhood conflicts are as old as public recreation itself.”
Presidio pickleball Nancy Jones told The Standard that pickleball, as a sport, presents an inclusive and accessible outdoor activity for individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Jones pointed out: “To take away a free outdoor recreational activity for people who can’t afford to join a private club – what are people without money supposed to do?”
Driving Down Property Values
Jack Vincent, a regular pickleball player in his 60s who uses the Presidio Wall courts five days a week, expressed understanding for local residents who may be bothered by the noise. However, he emphasized that those who purchased homes near a park should have reasonably anticipated that the associated noises might be an issue.
Vincent disagreed with the notion that pickleball was driving down property values. He suggested that potential buyers might view proximity to pickleball courts and a park as a positive aspect despite the recent decline in home sales and prices for San Francisco’s high-end properties.
Acoustic Fencing
Mary Hickey, another regular at the Presidio Wall courts and an ambassador for USA Pickleball, expressed her desire to find a compromise with concerned residents.
She proposed installing sound-reducing acoustic fences around the courts and hoped to facilitate discussions between neighbors and city officials to explore this solution.
It’s worth noting that the petition initially closed but reopened after engagement with Tesluk, a prominent design executive. As of today, the petition was nearing its goal of 100 signatures.
Click here for more of our articles about the pickleball noise problem. We’ve also featured pickleball in and around San Francisco and the Bay Area in these articles.
