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Neighbors urge removal of pickleball lines at Rainier Trails Park; council opts to wait
Summary
Stonebrook neighbors told the council that a daily pickleball group at Rainier Trails Park produces disruptive noise for properties as close as 30 feet. The parks board recommended removing the lines, but council members generally favored waiting until seven new courts at Garrett Park are resurfaced (work to begin May 18) before removing lines at Rainier Trails.
Richard Gardine, speaking for Stonebrook neighborhood residents, told the Enumclaw City Council that pickleball striping added to Rainier Trails Park in May 2025 has created daily play and 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," Gardine said, noting some properties are as close as "approximately 30 feet" from play.
Gardine told council the parks board voted to remove the pickleball lines and that funding is available to restore the court to tennis‑only surfacing when resurfacing is completed and new courts at Garrett Park open.
Council members debated the appropriate timing and fiscal consequences. Several members said they preferred to wait until the seven‑court Garrett Park facility is resurfaced and functioning (work anticipated to begin May 18) before removing lines at Rainier Trails, in part so players would have an alternate location. One councilmember said removing lines now and paying to have them removed would be a poor use of tax dollars if alternative courts are not yet available.
A council member who lives in the neighborhood said he plays pickleball and supported removing the lines once Garrett Park is available; others called the proposed compromise reasonable: delay removal until the new courts open and reassess use and noise impacts afterwards.
Council directed that the issue be discussed again at the next meeting on May 18, when new information about the Garrett Park resurfacing is expected to be available. No formal action to remove lines was taken on April 27.
This matter will return to council for further consideration after staff and the parks board report on the Garrett Park timeline and available alternatives.
