Brook Run Noise

The city is considering noise complaints lodged by some neighbors about the noise emanating from nearby baseball fields at Brook Run Park.

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Some neighbors near the Brook Run Park baseball fields say they’re tired of hearing ding after ding from metal bats striking baseballs all day and night. 

Dunwoody City Council members are trying to figure out if it’s the city’s problem. 

On the North Peachtree Road side of the baseball fields, there are fewer trees to buffer sound. 

Designs were submitted to the council several months out with figures showing that trees would have to be taken out along that side whether they added a retaining wall or if they had a sloped hill as the design is now, Parks and Recreation Director Brett Walker said. 

Councilman John Heneghan, Councilwoman Pam Tallmadge and Mayor Denis Shortal met with neighbors near the proposed Brook Run baseball fields more than a year ago, when Brian Mailman, who lives across the street from the fields on the North Peachtree side, first raised concerns about noise and light pollution.

Since the baseball fields have been in operation, noise has been an issue for Mailman and his family, especially his daughter who he tries to put to bed by 9 p.m., he said. Teams start playing and practicing as early as 6:45 a.m. and run until 11 p.m., he said. He has lived in his house for 14 years, and the noise has devalued his home to some extent, he said.

Because of the sloped hills around the fields, more trees were taken down that could have acted as a stronger buffer, he said. Leyland cypress have been planted along the North Peachtree side, but they are not as tall as the older trees farther down the road past Riverglen Circle, where Mailman’s neighborhood abuts the park.

“You don’t get a sound buffer from one row of trees,” Mailman said. 

The home has lost value by a project the city installed, Mailman said. 

Mailman’s concerns prompted Heneghan to bring the noise complaints to the City Council at its May 20 meeting. 

“Do we have a responsibility to rectify this situation for this homeowner that abuts this project that we installed?” Heneghan said. “The batting cages are really close to his house. It happens all day, every day sometimes till 11 o’clock at night.”

Mailman has submitted a quote to the city for triple-paned windows for his home, which could significantly deaden the sound. The city will look into replacing all or some of Mailman’s windows, Heneghan said, possibly after city staff visits the home to determine the noise volume and which windows may need to be replaced. City lawyers will determine how much of the cost of the windows the city is responsible for. 

The city must also consider the possible long-term value added to Mailman’s home if the windows are replaced and paid for by the city, Heneghan said. 

“When we put a project into place we need to think of all implications,” Heneghan said.

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