The affluent seaside community of Carmel, California, has decided to eliminate pickleball from its public park following complaints from locals about the persistent noise from the sport.
In a recent decision, the Carmel City Council opted to enforce a permanent ban on pickleball at Forest Hill Park, the town’s sole venue for the sport. According to sfgate.com, this move marks the first such restriction within the state.
Neighbors expressed grievances about the repetitive “popping” sounds that reverberated through the area as enthusiasts engaged in the game, which has seen a surge in popularity, especially among older adults and retirees.
Initially, the council had imposed a temporary ban last month while contemplating a lasting resolution. One proposed measure was to mandate the use of softer paddles and balls to lessen the noise from the traditional plastic balls hitting wooden paddles.
Nevertheless, during a city council meeting on November 4, numerous residents shared that the temporary halt had restored tranquility to their neighborhood, free from the persistent clatter of the game.
However, at a city council meeting on Nov. 4, several residents said the temporary ban helped them enjoy a quieter community after the constant noise from the game.
“It’s been so peaceful and quiet,” Carmel resident Kimberly Edwards said at the meeting, adding that there had been an “uptick in tennis players,” especially younger people.
But Edwards was skeptical that the ban would be able to be enforced.
“There’s gonna be a problem,” she said. “These aren’t supervised courts. You know that. They’re not — there’s no parks and rec department. So as I addressed in my letter: Who’s going to enforce this? … Am I going to have to hear a noise and then call the police? Is a police officer going to have to be, you know, sitting there on these courts, supervising them?”
The Carmel City Council voted earlier this month to permanently prohibit the sport at Forest Hill Park. (iStock)
“You guys are all in this position to protect us,” she said. “That’s your number one goal. That’s what your job is — not to placate these pickleball enthusiasts.”
Competitive pickleball player Barbara Lang, who said she no longer uses the Forest Hill Park courts, argued that even “quiet” pickleball at the park would be preferable to banning the sport.
“If you want to try it with the quiet ball, I think it’s only fair to the players to give that a chance,” she said, stressing that she speaks for many pickleballers not in attendance.
The city council decided against compromising by allowing the sport to be played with quieter equipment, which would have required monitoring.
Several residents said the temporary ban helped them enjoy a quieter community. (iStock)
“We’re just overcomplicating it in the name of compromise,” council member Alissandra Dramov said, adding that she had to “accept the reality this is not a good location for pickleball.”
The city will draft an ordinance to permanently ban pickleball at the park.
Opponents of the ban will have two more hearings to appeal the ban once it is created.
“It’s just a really difficult thing to enforce,” Mayor Dale Byrne said, siding with the ban. “And I can’t ask the [police] chief to send his people up there. … It’s really sad that we can’t figure this out.”
