Aberdeen will be the first city in Scotland to remove signs banning ball games.
Members of the communities, housing and infrastructure committee yesterday agreed that all signs prohibiting the games should be removed, and no further signs erected.
It is hoped that taking away the signs will lead to more youngsters playing outside.
An amendment from Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Yuill was put forward, calling on officials to undertake an “information campaign” to explain the “appropriate use of open spaces for ball play” and for them to prepare a report on green spaces unsuitable for ball play.
Mr Yuill said the amendment would encourage residents to be “good neighbours”.
But it was widely condemned from all sides of the town house yesterday.
Conservative councillor Ross Thomson said: “There is no information at all on what would be done in this campaign or how much it would cost.
“This is a liberalisation of our green spaces, I would have thought the Liberals would have been in favour of it.”
Committee convener Neil Cooney added: “Please let’s get this moving to get youngsters playing real games and not just the ones on the computer.”
The amendment was defeated 17 votes to two.