About 100 Appleton residents, business owners and local politicians gathered to talk about change for the rising downtown noise levels. Oct. 22, 2025. PC; Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — About 100 Appleton residents, business owners and local politicians gathered Wednesday night to discuss changes to the noise levels in downtown Appleton.
“All this excessive noise and popping and people can’t sit outside,” said business owner Dan Van Daalwyk. “It’s just gotten really out of hand.”
A representative from Lawrence University addressed the noise as well.
“The excessive noise does create disruption for our students as they’re trying to learn, study and relax on campus,” said Deputy Chief of Staff Garrett Singer. “I want to emphasize this is during the day, as well as in the evening.”
The group is calling out vehicles with loud revving or no mufflers — more than just ordinary car or motorcycle traffic. Alderperson Martyn Smith, who helped organize Wednesday’s event, believes the solution starts with more enforcement.
In September, the Appleton Police Department added a second officer dedicated solely to traffic citations. The city said it has issued about 40 noise citations this year — more traffic citations overall than last year.
Smith shared some of the other steps the group will take.
“Appleton Downtown Incorporated, who organizes a lot of the events and the businesses downtown, they would serve as a sort of management and coordinator and education center,” said Smith. “So we could get signs put up around the downtown and maybe even on the entrances down College Avenue and say, ‘This is what we stand for as a city.’ We’re not gonna stop the noisemakers, but we’re gonna tell ourselves, ‘This is who we are as a city, and we can be better.'”
He added that people should report to police when they see or hear someone making excessive noise.
Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford said he agrees with the sentiments, but recognizes the police department is balancing other enforcement, as well as funding, in other areas of the community. Woodford cited the increased patrols and noise ordinance enforcement as examples of the city’s efforts. He encourages residents to report noise complaints online or over the phone.
Downtown advocates say this needs to be more of a priority. Woodford said it’ll be a slow process, but believes these efforts will be successful.
Comments