Stonebrook residents press council to remove pickleball lines; council to wait for new courts

Stonebrook resident Richard Gardine told the Enumclaw City Council that his neighborhood is not opposed to pickleball but that the lines added at Rainier Trails Park in May 2025 have created daily noise that significantly affects nearby homes.

"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… the impact on nearby residents is significant," Gardine said, reading a written statement and noting some homes sit roughly 30 feet from the court.

Gardine told council that the parks board passed a motion to remove the pickleball lines and that funding is available to resurface the court this year. Stonebrook residents asked the council to discuss removing the lines and restoring the court to tennis only once resurfacing and new courts at Garrett Park are open.

Council members discussed the issue during committee reports and at length in council comments. Council member Storton, who said he lives in the neighborhood and plays pickleball, said he supports removing the lines once a suitable alternative is available: "I will go on the record and say that I'm personally … that the lines at Rainier Trails shouldn't be removed." Other council members said they favor waiting until Garrett Park's seven new courts are resurfaced and available to see whether play migrates there before spending tax dollars to remove lines at Rainier Trails.

The council set a follow-up on the topic for its May 18 meeting to reassess after the new courts come online. No formal ordinance or resolution was adopted at the April 27 meeting.

The matter touches on competing priorities: residents asking relief from persistent noise, park users seeking additional play options, and council concern about using city funds for line removal if demand shifts to the new facility.