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Stonebrook neighbors press council to remove pickleball lines at Rainier Trails; council opts to wait for new courts
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Summary
Stonebrook residents told the Enumclaw City Council that daily pickleball play at Rainier Trails Park has generated sustained noise and asked the city to remove pickleball lines. Council members agreed to revisit the issue after the planned Garrett Park resurfacing and new seven-court facility come online.
Sharon Covington and neighbors told the Enumclaw City Council on April 27 that daily pickleball play at Rainier Trails Park has created persistent noise problems for adjacent homes and asked the city to remove the pickleball striping.
The request was presented in a written statement to the council by Richard Gardine, who said he speaks for Stonebrook neighbors and that pickleball lines were added at Rainier Trails Park in May 2025. "We want to be clear that we are not opposed to pickleball," Gardine said. "However, we are concerned about the location of the court at Rainier Trails Park ... the impact on nearby residents is significant." He noted some homes are approximately 30 feet from the court and told the council the parks board voted two weeks earlier to remove the lines and that funding was available to complete resurfacing work this year.
Why it matters: Residents say the daily use and noise directly affect quality of life for properties adjacent to Rainier Trails. Council members framed the question as one of balancing public use of parks with neighborhood impacts and avoiding hasty removal of facilities without suitable alternatives.
Council members expressed differing views. Councilmember Storton, who lives in the neighborhood and plays pickleball, said the city is building "seven courts at Garrett" that will provide a proper facility and «I will go on the record and say that ... I don't see a reason why the lines at Rainier Trails shouldn't be removed.» Other council members urged patience and fiscal caution: several said they prefer waiting until the new Garrett Park courts are resurfaced and lined so the community has alternative play space before removing existing lines. One council member emphasized the expense of removing lines with public funds and recommended waiting.
Key details discussed in the meeting: - The parks board voted recently to remove the pickleball striping at Rainier Trails Park; committee members suggested waiting until the new seven-court facility at Garrett Park is available (work expected to begin May 18) to avoid removing playing space without providing an alternative. - Stonebrook residents said the courts generate daily noise beginning in the spring and described the nearest homes as about 30 feet from the court surface.
Next steps: Council agreed to discuss the matter again at the May 18 meeting after resurfacing work at Garrett Park begins. The council did not take a binding vote at the April 27 meeting.
