Carmel council introduces ordinance to prohibit pickleball at Forest Hill Park after contentious public hearing

The Carmel-by-the-Sea City Council on Dec. 2 moved to introduce an ordinance that would ban pickleball and other paddle sports at Forest Hill Park, following a heated public hearing that drew players, neighbors and national attention.

Supporters of preserving the park’s current use said the court location and nearby homes make unregulated play untenable. “I can hear the noise inside my house — my bedroom, my garden and my kitchen,” said a nearby resident, who told the council she had repeatedly called police when play reached high levels. Opponents — including longtime players and some residents — urged compromise, suggesting time limits, quieter equipment or sound attenuation as alternatives.

Staff told the council the proposal codifies an urgency ordinance adopted in October and would become effective after a second reading in January and a 30‑day posting period (anticipated in mid‑February unless the council adjusts the schedule). The staff report explained the draft ordinance would add chapter 12.5 to the municipal code to prohibit paddle sports at Forest Hill Park while leaving tennis courts unrestricted.

During public comment, players and advocates argued the sport has community health benefits and asked for mitigations or relocation assistance; one longtime player, Krista Ingalls, urged the council to “please reinstate pickleball at some level” and criticized a total ban. Residents living immediately adjacent to the courts described ongoing noise, parking and enforcement problems that they said persisted despite prior limits on hours and use.

Council deliberations focused on whether proposed mitigations — quiet balls and paddles, acoustic fencing, or time limits — were feasible and enforceable in the park’s configuration. Multiple council members said staff and commissioners had tried mitigation steps over several months and that Forest Hill’s topography and proximity to homes made it particularly unsuitable for pickleball. The council cited enforcement resource limits and repeated violations of prior restrictions in explaining the decision.

After discussion the council voted to waive further reading and introduce Ordinance 20 25 5. A roll‑call vote recorded unanimous support to introduce the ordinance; the item will return for a second reading at the January meeting, with an effective date to follow in line with the city’s ordinance-adoption schedule.

The council also directed staff to continue work on alternatives for players, including exploring nearby school and municipal sites and short‑term arrangements to reduce disruption while a longer-term site is identified.

The council meeting began with other agenda items, including presentations and recognitions, and recessed for dinner before resuming later business.