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Neighbors urge removal of pickleball lines at Rainier Trails Park; council opts to wait for new courts
Summary
Stonebrook residents asked the council to remove pickleball striping at Rainier Trails Park, saying daily play since May 2025 has created sustained noise close to homes. The parks board recommended removal, but council members generally favored waiting until seven courts at Garrett Park are resurfaced (work expected May 18) before deciding.
Richard Gardine, speaking for Stonebrook neighbors on April 27, asked the Enumclaw City Council to remove pickleball lines added at Rainier Trails Park and to restore the court for tennis only, saying the daily noise since May 2025 affects nearby homeowners.
Gardine said the parks board passed a motion to remove pickleball lines and that funding to resurface the court is available. "We want to be clear that we are not opposed to pickleball. However, we are concerned about the location of the court at Rainier Trails Park ... a pickleball group plays daily beginning in May and continuing through the summer months, creating a level of noise that directly affects those of us living in close proximity," he told the council.
Council discussion after committee reports showed mixed views. Council member Storton said he supported removal and argued the city can designate specific parks for different activities. Other members — including LaFleur, Martin, Stanley and Kevin Orsut — said they preferred to wait until the new seven‑court facility at Garrett Park is resurfaced and open (resurfacing work anticipated to begin May 18) to see whether play shifts there before removing lines at Rainier Trails Park. Several council members raised concerns about the fiscal impact of paying to remove lines and the fairness of removing public amenities before alternatives are available.
The council did not adopt an immediate directive to remove lines; members agreed to revisit the issue at a future council meeting after Garrett Park work begins.
