That’s too much racket!
A wealthy California town wants to ban pickleball because the constant thwack of balls hitting paddles is too noisy for neighbors.
Carmel City Council voted to permanently bounce the fast-growing sport from within city limits earlier this month — a first-of-its kind move in the Golden State.
Frustrated residents complained that the “popping” sound of the sport — which has spiked in popularity in recent years, especially among retirees — has been echoing through the seaside community and driving them nuts, according to sfgate.com.
Carmel City Council voted to permanently bounce the fast-growing sport from within city limits earlier this month. pics721 – stock.adobe.com
So last month, the city council voted to temporarily ban pickleball from Forest Hill Park, the only space with public courts in the town.
Council members Jeff Baron and Hans Buder then hatched a plan to require players to use “quiet” paddles and balls — but residents fired back that folks aren’t likely to follow those rules.
“There’s gonna be a problem,” Carmel resident Kimberly Edwards said at a city council meeting Nov. 4.
“Who’s going to enforce this? Am I going to have to hear a noise and then call the police?” she said. “It’s an unrealistic proposition.”
Residents of Carmel complained that pickleball is too loud, so the city council banned the sport. John Terri Kratchmer / Facebook
But devotees of the sport said a full-blown ban really puts them in a pickle.
“If you want to try it with the quiet ball, I think it’s only fair to the players to give that a chance,” pickleball player Barbara Lang fired back.
The city council ultimately voted unanimously in favor of extending the temporary ban and drafting legislation to create a permanent one.
Opponents of the ban will have two more hearings to appeal the ban once it is created.