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Council approves temporary Rainier Trails Park sign directing pickleball players to larger courts
Summary
After extended debate about noise, parking and enforcement, Enumclaw City Council approved a temporary sign at Rainier Trails Park encouraging use for tennis and directing pickleball players to alternative resurfaced courts; the measure is non‑codified and intended as an honor-system instruction.
Enumclaw City Council voted to place a temporary sign at Rainier Trails Park that encourages use by tennis players and directs pickleball players to the town's newly resurfaced courts at Dwight Garrett. The motion was made during the Community Services committee report and passed after extended debate about neighborhood complaints and enforceability.
Council member (speaker 6) moved the measure; it was seconded and discussed at length. Council members cited three recent types of complaints received in the prior two weeks: noise levels, vehicles parked on both sides of a single-lane street, and incidents of public urination. As one council member summarized, these were "noise abatement complaints" and parking and safety issues could pose a hazard, particularly if curbside parking impedes emergency vehicle access.
Staff and council repeatedly noted the sign would be non-codified and not enforceable by police or code enforcement. "It's not going to cite an RCW. It's not going to cite an ordinance," the Mayor said, explaining that the sign would operate on an honor system and simply "encourage you to go play" at the alternate location. Councilmember 13 (staff) proposed sign language that would politely request limitation of use to tennis and provide directions to the Garrett park courts and a contact phone number.
Several council members pressed for alternatives to an absolute "tennis only" message. One council member urged welcoming language that steers players to other facilities rather than banning activity the city cannot enforce. Another council member favored a temporary sign to allow staff and the community to see whether resurfacing at the alternate courts alleviates the conflict before considering codifying restrictions.
Council approved the temporary signage by voice vote; no opposition was recorded during the final call. Staff said a temporary sign could be deployed quickly and that Parks staff could follow up with outreach to the local pickleball group about costs the group may have incurred painting new court lines.
The council emphasized that if complaints persist, further steps (including possible codification of rules or reimbursing line-painting costs if a court is restricted) would require additional deliberation. The action is intended as a low-cost, short-term measure to reduce tension while monitoring usage and complaints.
