The Carmel City Council voted to permanently ban pickleball at Forest Hill Park, the city’s only public park with pickleball courts, after receiving noise complaints from neighbors.”We’ve had laws against ice cream cones and high-heeled shoes, so this seems like another crazy one that you’re going to outlaw pickleball,” one attendee, Terry Moran, said.A group of seniors who play pickleball weekly pushed back against the decision, feeling excluded from the decision-making process. “We’ve been trying to participate as much as possible, but we feel like we’ve been left out of certain decisions,” Cynthia Vanderburg, a pickleball advocate, said.The ban follows weeks of debate and was driven by complaints from a small group of residents living near the park. “We’re not bad people saying you shouldn’t play your sport, just have compassion on the neighborhood that’s receiving this sport,” one attendee said. Another added, “There are other places for these people to go and play. I can’t. What am I going to do? Sell my house and move away?”Pickleball players argue that a few neighbors should not be able to shut down a sport that is important to many. They emphasize the benefits of the sport, including exercise, enjoyment, and social interaction. “It’s a great way to socialize, a great way to exercise, and it appears to be that the people who got this ban, or five people who live around the park, but there’s been no attempt to really look at what the community wants,” Moran said.Council members acknowledged the arguments from both sides but ultimately decided to proceed with the ban. The ban will take effect in 30 days, although pickleball is already off-limits at Forest Hill Park due to a temporary ban.Despite the vote, the mayor expressed hope that the council could work with both sides to find a compromise.See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, Calif. —
The Carmel City Council voted to permanently ban pickleball at Forest Hill Park, the city’s only public park with pickleball courts, after receiving noise complaints from neighbors.
“We’ve had laws against ice cream cones and high-heeled shoes, so this seems like another crazy one that you’re going to outlaw pickleball,” one attendee, Terry Moran, said.
A group of seniors who play pickleball weekly pushed back against the decision, feeling excluded from the decision-making process.
“We’ve been trying to participate as much as possible, but we feel like we’ve been left out of certain decisions,” Cynthia Vanderburg, a pickleball advocate, said.
The ban follows weeks of debate and was driven by complaints from a small group of residents living near the park.
“We’re not bad people saying you shouldn’t play your sport, just have compassion on the neighborhood that’s receiving this sport,” one attendee said.
Another added, “There are other places for these people to go and play. I can’t. What am I going to do? Sell my house and move away?”
Pickleball players argue that a few neighbors should not be able to shut down a sport that is important to many.
They emphasize the benefits of the sport, including exercise, enjoyment, and social interaction.
“It’s a great way to socialize, a great way to exercise, and it appears to be that the people who got this ban, or five people who live around the park, but there’s been no attempt to really look at what the community wants,” Moran said.
Council members acknowledged the arguments from both sides but ultimately decided to proceed with the ban.
The ban will take effect in 30 days, although pickleball is already off-limits at Forest Hill Park due to a temporary ban.
Despite the vote, the mayor expressed hope that the council could work with both sides to find a compromise.
See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel