Heeding residents’ pleas, Carmel will limit pickleball play in a three-month trial.

The sharp whacking sound of pickleballs ricocheting off of paddles became too much for neighbors surrounding Forest Hill Park’s four pickleball courts in Carmel. They pleaded with Carmel officials to do something to restore peace to the neighborhood. On Dec. 12, the Forest and Beach Commission answered those pleas, at least for a time, by limiting days and hours for play.

“Pickleball just isn’t a game that should be played in residential neighborhoods,” said John Kratchmer, who lives just across the street. “It is loud and it is just ‘pop, pop, pop’ all day long. It’s not just the decibel level but the high pitch of the noise.”

On direction from the Carmel City Council, Public Works staff studied the issue and determined that the pickleball noise is fairly consistent throughout the day, seven days a week, and exceeds noise levels as prescribed in city ordinances. Staff presented commissioners with four options for a trial period: no pickleball; limiting hours and days; mandating “quiet” equipment; or reducing the number of courts.

Commissioners voted to limit play to 9am-5pm Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, for 90 days beginning in January, once signs are posted. At the end of the 90 days they will assess and send formal recommendations to the council.

“Our group is certainly amenable to the changes. We’re not upset. We all empathize with the neighbors,” says Suzi Crary, 80, who’s won national titles in pickleball in her age class.

Crary and others received city approval to create the courts four years ago, then painted striping and purchased nets. “Carmel is such fun and we have a really good group of people,” she says.