Residents and conservation groups urge council to reject Magnuson Park pickleball site near restored wetlands

Speakers at the Parks, Public Utilities and Technology Committee’s public comment period on April 23 urged the council to oppose a Parks Department master‑plan amendment that would allow a large outdoor pickleball facility next to the restored wetlands at Magnuson Park.

Joshua Morris, conservation director of Birds Connect Seattle, told the committee he represents petition signers who oppose building "a massive outdoor pickleball facility adjacent to sensitive wetland habitat at Magnuson Park." Morris added that neighbors living in low‑income housing near the wetlands were not included in advisory planning and are concerned about noise and bright lighting.

Several speakers who identified themselves as Magnuson Park users, birdwatchers and advisory‑committee members asked the council to consider alternatives, including indoor facilities or locations elsewhere in the park. Carol Furey, a Magnuson Park advisory committee member and Sand Point Way resident, suggested an indoor facility and said that proposed covers for outdoor courts would need to be 18 to 20 feet tall and would be "pretty industrial looking and imposing." Martha Taylor and Lauren Wilson, who described birding and wildlife observations at the wetland, warned that day‑long noise and lighting could interfere with nesting birds and other wetland species.

Speakers raised process and equity concerns. Joshua Morris and others said the advisory committee review excluded non‑player community members; Patricia Noveltree, a 40‑year Bryant resident and attorney, framed the concern as a fairness issue and said "nothing in our democracy is more basic than fairness" when notifying and involving interested parties. Several speakers urged siting courts away from the restored wetland or building indoor courts; speakers also suggested distributing new courts across neighborhood parks.

Public comment overview: The committee recorded seven in‑person speakers and two remote commenters; remarks spanned concerns about noise, light pollution, wildlife impacts, loss of nature access for nearby low‑income residents, and perceived exclusion of nearby residents from early planning. One commenter noted an SPU presentation comment (from Parks staff at an April 9 advisory committee meeting) that locating courts at the E‑5 parking lot would reduce crime and vandalism; speakers countered that such logic would require shrinking other parking areas and said it was not persuasive.

Committee response and next steps: Chair Joy Hollingsworth thanked speakers and said she and Council Member Rivera (whose district includes Magnuson Park) would continue to work on the issue; the council did not take any vote during the public comment period. The Parks Department presentation on the pickleball proposal was not part of this SPU briefing; public commentators asked council members to refrain from approving any master‑plan amendment that would allow the proposed site without further study and broader outreach.

Direct quotes from the meeting include Joshua Morris saying the proposal "shows an extraordinary lack of concern for us and for the restored wetlands," Carol Furey saying "an indoor facility would give more opportunities" for all players and community members, and Patricia Noveltree arguing that "nothing in our democracy is more basic than fairness" in public notice and participation.

Ending: The committee concluded public comment and moved to the scheduled SPU presentation. No formal Council action on the Magnuson Park master plan or the pickleball siting occurred in this meeting.