The city council of Carmel has voted unanimously to initiate a permanent ban on pickleball at Forest Hill Park, prompted by repeated complaints from nearby residents about the “popping” sound of balls striking paddles.
The park’s courts, the only public pickleball facility within city limits, were already under a temporary suspension while officials explored quieter equipment options. During a recent council meeting, several residents described the noise echoing through their homes and asked for the sport’s removal to preserve neighborhood peace.
Pickleball enthusiasts attempted to propose a compromise—introducing softer paddles and balls to reduce noise—but the council concluded that enforcement would prove impractical without dedicated oversight. The attorney’s office has been tasked with drafting ordinance language for a final vote on the ban at a future session.