Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Signage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves temporary 'tennis' sign at Rainier Trails Park amid pickleball disputes
Summary
The Enumclaw City Council approved a temporary sign encouraging tennis-only use at Rainier Trails Park after residents raised noise, parking and public-urination concerns. Council emphasized the sign would be non-enforceable guidance and recommended directing players to newly resurfaced courts at Dwight/Garrett.
Councilmembers voted to place a temporary sign at Rainier Trails Park asking users to "please limit use to tennis" and directing pickleball players to the newly resurfaced courts at Dwight Garrett, after a lengthy debate over neighborhood complaints and enforceability.
Councilmember Martinelli moved for the sign, citing public complaints discussed in committee; the motion was seconded and carried after council discussion about alternatives and likely effects. "I would like to make a motion to implement that and see what the council feels," Martinelli said when introducing the proposal.
Several councilmembers and staff described recent complaints that prompted the request: noise from multiple players on a single court, parking spilling into the street that can reduce travel lanes, and incidents of public urination. One council member summarized the incoming correspondence: "the three latest complaints were: public urination, parking on the road causing safety issues and a letter from an HOA board member about noise." (Mayor)
Council debate focused on whether a sign that cannot be enforced would create false expectations. "If we say it's 'tennis only' and we have no teeth to enforce it, we may be creating escalation without recourse," a council member said. Other members argued a sign is a low-cost, quick step to reduce tensions and highlighted that the city had just resurfaced alternative courts with restrooms and more capacity.
Staff advised the sign be temporary and reevaluated after monitoring. "We can put up a temporary sign encouraging users to go to Dwight Garrett while we see if resurfacing alleviates the issue," a staff member said. Council agreed on temporary language that welcomes people to other courts rather than declaring a codified ban.
The motion passed; staff will produce the sign language and install a temporary sign while the council monitors public response and any continued civic complaints. No ordinance or codified restriction was adopted; the council was explicit that the sign is an honor-system encouragement rather than an enforceable regulation.
Next steps: staff will prepare the temporary sign with the agreed language and report back on whether the temporary measure reduces complaints or if further policy action (including potential codification or reimbursement questions related to re-striping costs) is necessary.
