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Council approves temporary tennis-only sign at Rainier Trails Park amid pickleball dispute
Summary
After extended debate about enforceability, parking and noise, the Enumclaw City Council voted to place a temporary sign at Rainier Trails Park encouraging tennis use and directing pickleball players to nearby Dwight Garrett Park; the sign is intended as an honor-system measure, not a codified restriction.
The Enumclaw City Council voted to place a temporary sign at Rainier Trails Park encouraging the court’s use for tennis and directing pickleball players to nearby Dwight Garrett Park, after a lengthy discussion about neighborhood complaints and enforcement limits.
Councilmember (Speaker 6), who moved for the sign, framed it as a low-cost, interim remedy to recurring complaints about noise, parking and restrooms. "I make a motion to ask the council to implement a sign for Rainier Trails Park," the councilmember stated during debate.
Council members and staff debated the sign’s wording and legal effect. Councilmember 4 noted multiple public comments raising parking, restroom and noise concerns and asked whether the city would incur any legal or operational obligations by placing a sign. City staff warned that a sign would be nonenforceable unless codified into ordinance and could trigger additional policy decisions in the future. "It's not enforceable by code enforcement because you've not codified it," the mayor said, cautioned that signage would operate on the honor system.
Several council members urged outreach and a temporary approach. One suggested a laminated temporary sign to be reassessed in a month; another recommended contacting local pickleball groups about reimbursement for stripe removal on the resurfaced courts. Councilmember 3 said opening newly resurfaced courts at Dwight Garrett might relieve pressure: "Let's put a nice sign and, you know, if we have a good picture or the design of something ... maybe they'll just all want to play on the new court versus Rainier Trails."
After clarifying language that would encourage tennis use and provide directions to alternate courts, the council approved the temporary sign by voice vote. The action directs staff to produce temporary signage with wording encouraging tennis-only use and to re-evaluate the measure.
The council did not adopt any codified restriction or change park rules; staff emphasized possible future steps if complaints persist, including pursuing an enforceable policy with associated procedural and budget implications. The temporary signs are expected to be deployed immediately and re-evaluated by the council in coming weeks.
