Council approves temporary tennis‑only signage at Rainier Trails Park, directs players to Dwight Garrett courts

The Enumclaw City Council voted May 26 to place a temporary sign at Rainier Trails Park encouraging tennis‑only use and directing players to the newly resurfaced Dwight Garrett courts.

Council members debated neighborhood complaints about noise, parking and public urination around Rainier Trails Park and discussed whether a sign would create enforceable restrictions. Councilmember Smith noted that signage would be non‑regulatory unless the council codified a court‑use restriction. Parks staff and council members said a temporary, instructive sign could be deployed quickly so the city can evaluate whether the new Dwight Garrett courts and the sign reduce conflicts.

The motion — to place a temporary sign with language encouraging tennis use and identifying alternate pickleball courts at Dwight Garrett — was moved, seconded and passed by voice vote. Staff said the sign would state that it is an encouragement (an honor system) and include directions or contact information for the alternate facility. Council and staff also discussed outreach to the local pickleball group and whether to reimburse costs for repainting lines if play is later restricted; those follow‑up details were left to administration.

Why it matters: Residents and downtown businesses told council they are seeing increased recreational use that can strain parking and generate noise; councilmembers described the action as a modest, low‑cost step to try to reduce neighborhood tensions while preserving recreational options.

Next steps: Staff will prepare temporary signage and coordinate outreach; council indicated it will reassess the approach after the trial period and consider codifying restrictions only after further evaluation.