The Fishkill Parks and Recreation and Highway Departments just finished work on a six-court outdoor pickleball paradise at Doug Phillips Park.

The town has been trying to keep up with the demand for pickleball courts as the sport's popularity skyrockets. Town officials are also being mindful of some neighbors who were initially concerned about the high-pitched noise every time someone hits a ball.

Local pickleballer Tina Shebetone helped Fishkill catch the pickleball bug when she started an indoor pickleball league at the town recreation center.

"I noticed the gym was so beautiful, and I said, 'You know what, how about asking the director if I can start a pickleball program here," Shebetone said.

The program exploded. Town officials noticed the increasing demand for outdoor courts, and put the recreation and highway departments to work.

Neighbors in the condo complex just behind the new courts were concerned at first that the noise might carry over into their neighborhood. As play started on all six courts, little could be heard just outside the closest homes, just across a railroad track and behind a thick layer of trees from the courts.

Fishkill Recreation Director Jason Maietta expects the thick vegetation surrounding the courts to help prevent disruptions at the two condo communities bordering the park.

"Hopefully the noise will drown out before it gets too late to really cause any disruption to neighbors, but if it does, we'll be certain to address it," Maietta said.

The town is also planning two more pickleball courts at another nearby park to keep up with the demand, and are relying on current in-house employees to build them instead of contractors to keep construction costs lower.