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Stonebrook neighbors press Enumclaw council to remove pickleball lines at Rainier Trails
Summary
Stonebrook residents urged the Enumclaw City Council to remove pickleball lines at Rainier Trails Park, saying daily play since May 2025 has produced persistent noise for homes as close as about 30 feet; council members agreed to wait for new courts at Garrett Park to come online before acting.
Stonebrook residents pressed the Enumclaw City Council on April 27 to remove temporary pickleball striping at Rainier Trails Park, saying the daily use has created a sustained noise nuisance for nearby homes.
"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," Richard Gardine told the council, noting some properties are as close as about 30 feet to the court. Gardine said the parks board voted two weeks earlier to remove the pickleball lines and that funding is available to restore the court to tennis-only use.
The request prompted extended committee and council discussion. Council member Storton, who represents the neighborhood and said he plays pickleball, said he supported removing the lines if Garrett Park’s new seven-court facility provides adequate alternative capacity. "We're also discussing some possibility of other courts over on Battersea, but those are gonna be some years out," Storton said, adding he would favor removing the lines once Garrett is operational.
Other members raised fiscal and practical concerns. Council member Kevin Orsut called the debate "kind of silly" in the abstract but agreed with waiting for the new courts' resurfacing to avoid paying twice to remove and then re-add lines. Several council members suggested resurfacing and lining Garrett Park (work slated to start May 18) first, then reassessing use at Rainier Trails.
Council agreed to discuss the topic again at its May 18 meeting and to monitor how play patterns change after the Garrett Park improvements. The council did not take a formal vote on changing park striping at the April 27 meeting.
Why it matters: The decision affects nearby residents' quality of life and the city's management of limited park space and maintenance dollars while the city builds dedicated pickleball capacity at Garrett Park.
What’s next: Staff will report back after Garrett Park is resurfaced and the council will revisit the Rainier Trails lines at a future meeting.
