Everybody wants a house that abuts a park, right? Well, no. It is one of the many “it depends” situations in real estate.

If the noise issue is noticeable, some buyers will be turned off. So, even if it doesn’t bother you, it might bother future buyers, when it’s your turn to sell. 

What are the problems caused by parks that abut your property?


Does the park create noise? What kind of noise? 

  1. Certain noises are more annoying than others. What you find annoying is personal.

Some people will hate that there are children screaming and laughing in a playground. Other people find that charming. If you don’t like random children’s voices, don’t buy a home within earshot of a playground or spray park.

Tennis courts, and more recently pickleball courts, are the bane of their neighbors. Apparently, the balls go pop-pop-pop and drive the neighbors batty. The same thing goes for basketball courts: the thunk-thunk of dribbling balls is not universally loved.

There are schoolyards and local parks where school league games are held. Some of those have loudspeaker play-by-play during the season.

There are parks that play live music or have DJs with music played outdoors.

2. When will the noise be allowed?

There is a big difference between having a kiddie playground and having ball courts that are lighted until midnight.

There is a big difference between a soccer field that has 8 AM games every Saturday morning and a little league field that has afternoon games in the spring.

Does the park attract animals? What kind of animals?

Everyone loves critters in the park, right? Well, they don’t stay in the park, just because you have a fence. Squirrels will be looking for a winter home; your attic might look really good. Deer, groundhog, and raccoons will just love your garden to the ground. Some people won’t care. But some buyers will not want the wildlife that close.

mosquito

Then there’s the wetlands. If a house abuts unbuildable land that is now conservation, the wet conditions attract wetland creatures, including mosquitoes. Do you know anyone who loves mosquitoes?

 

Does the park have events that create traffic jams?

Before you buy near the entry gate of a large park, check the town or city for the dates that the park is used for large community events. If you don’t want to deal with the traffic jams, neither will some of the people who might want to buy your house, when it’s time to sell.