By: Christian Collington, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TheIFP.ca
Halton Hills council has approved a new framework for the use of amplified sound at the Georgetown Fairground baseball diamonds.
The decision, reached at the Jan. 26 council meeting, followed a successful pilot program where the Halton Hills Minor Baseball Association and the Halton Hawks Girls Fastpitch Association monitored noise levels during the 2025 season.
According to the report submitted to council, key findings from the pilot included:
Compliance: Decibel readings consistently remained below the town’s noise bylaw thresholds of 63 decibels during the day and 50 decibels after 5 p.m.
Minimal complaints: Only one complaint was received all season, which was immediately resolved by adjusting speaker orientation away from homes.
Darcy Carr, representing the HHMBA, delegated to council to support the new recommendations, calling them a “balanced and practical approach.”
The new framework allows for the use of amplified sound under specific conditions:
Eligible teams: Walk-up music can be used only by travel and competitive teams during games.
Restricted zones: Amplified sound remains prohibited at diamonds directly bordering residential backyards, specifically the Barn Diamond and Armoury Diamond at the Georgetown Fairgrounds, except during special tournaments.
Sound Control: Speakers must be oriented away from residential areas and no sound is permitted during practices or pre-game warm-ups.
The debate over amplified sound was characterized by several councillors as a “lengthy journey” that had previously caused unnecessary frustration for families.
Coun. Jason Brass noted that the issue had escalated into a two-year conflict that “should never have risen to this level,” and noted that when the initial ban was put in place, the effects “made it harder, not easier, for families to enjoy recreation.”
Coun. Clark Somerville expressed satisfaction that the town was correcting a “blunder” made the previous year, while others commended town staff for their work in finding a compromise that satisfied both the sports associations and the affected neighbours.
The success of the collaborative model may set a precedent for other parks in Halton Hills.
Coun. Alex Hilson noted that the town is looking into broadening the use of walk-up music in appropriate circumstances elsewhere in the municipality.
Currently, the town’s noise bylaw includes an exemption list for specific activities and council may look to permanently add baseball music to the list to avoid future conflicts.
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