Carmel council bans unmitigated pickleball at Forest Hill Park pending noise study

The Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to adopt an urgency ordinance prohibiting pickleball play at Forest Hill Park while staff studies noise‑reduction options.

The action came after more than two hours of public comment from neighbors who said pickleball noise had harmed their ability to live and sleep in nearby homes, and from players who said the courts provide important exercise and intergenerational recreation. The council heard field reports on acoustic fencing used in other cities and demonstrations of quieter balls and paddles.

Mayor Dale Byrne told the council he had visited a Pacific Grove installation of an acoustical barrier and “I don’t think it works,” and said the city should not rely on policing to make an experimental mitigation approach succeed. Members of the council who visited the Pacific Grove site and nearby courts said the fabric acoustic fence offered little measurable reduction where streets and home elevations gave listeners line‑of‑sight to players.

Councilmembers and staff discussed several paths forward: (a) an outright prohibition pending a study; (b) adoption of rules and a trial program that would allow play only with city‑provided “quiet” balls; or (c) investment in higher‑cost engineered barriers such as “PickleGlass.” The council adopted the prohibition and directed staff to study both quieter equipment pilot ideas and higher‑quality sound‑attenuation systems for later Council consideration.

Under the adopted urgency ordinance, the prohibition takes effect immediately. The Council also directed staff to return with a proposed regular ordinance and an implementation plan that would include enforcement, pilot details for quieter balls if appropriate, outreach to nearby alternative courts (including Carmel Middle School) and a cost estimate for potential capital improvements.

The vote on the urgency ordinance was 5–0. The Council’s action preserves the option to pursue mitigation if staff can show an enforceable, durable solution that reduces measured sound to acceptable levels.

The council emphasized the distinction between the temporary ban and longer‑term options. Council members who favored the ban said enforcement demands on the police department and the persistent complaints from some residents left them no practical alternative at this time. Council members who favored a pilot stressed the public‑health benefit of active recreation and asked staff to return quickly with a trial design.

The item began as a single public hearing focused on Forest Hill Park courts; the City previously heard the subject in a special meeting and referred the matter to a small work group to inspect mitigation systems in other cities. The new direction preserves the city’s ability to consider a future trial or engineered solution if staff can demonstrate enforceability and measurable noise reduction.

The council's action applies only to pickleball at Forest Hill Park and does not change rules for other parks or for tennis courts outside the city’s restricted site list.