About This Project

Squint Lake Park is a public park in Burnaby that includes pickleball courts for community recreation. As part of planned improvements to the park, the City of Burnaby proposed installing an acoustic barrier to help reduce noise transmission from pickleball activities to nearby residences.

We were retained to assess the effectiveness of the acoustic barrier after installation. Our work focused on measuring noise levels before and after the barrier was installed, comparing the results, and providing an initial technical assessment of the barrier’s noise reduction performance.

Scope of Services

To evaluate the effectiveness of the acoustic barrier, we delivered the following scope:

• Pre-installation noise measurements: We performed attended short-term noise measurements while the pickleball courts were in use before the acoustic barrier was installed. The City of Burnaby coordinated with local players to ensure the courts were fully occupied during the measurements.
• Post-installation noise measurements: We conducted attended short-term noise measurements at the same locations after the acoustic barrier was installed while the courts were again in active use, providing consistent conditions for comparison.
• Comparison and performance assessment: We compared the measured noise levels before and after installation to evaluate the effectiveness of the acoustic barrier. Where appropriate, We also provided comments on potential improvements related to the barrier installation.
• Technical reporting: We prepared a technical report summarizing the measurement approach, findings, and initial assessment of the acoustic barrier’s performance. The scope included one round of review comments from the City of Burnaby and revisions to the final report.

Project Benefits

By carrying out measurements before and after the acoustic barrier was installed, we provided field data to support an objective evaluation of the barrier’s performance under normal operating conditions at the pickleball courts.

The work helped the project in the following ways:

• Providing a consistent basis for comparison: Measurements were completed at the same monitoring locations before and after installation while the courts were in active use. This created a consistent basis for comparing the results and evaluating the barrier’s performance.
• Collecting objective technical data: Measurements were completed using professional instrumentation and established measurement procedures, helping assess the effectiveness of the noise mitigation using field data.
• Informing future technical decisions: In addition to documenting the measurement results, we provided preliminary comments on potential installation improvements where appropriate, helping inform future technical review and decision-making.

Working closely with the City and using real-world, site-specific data, we evaluated the acoustical benefits of a pickleball noise barrier. Our team deployed a proven assessment methodology, based on our experience on past pickleball projects, and gathered objective measurement data that helped inform the City’s decision-making process.

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