Council defers decision on Rainier Trails pickleball lines until new courts open

Neighbors and council members sparred briefly over pickleball lines at Rainier Trails during public comment and committee reports at the April 27 Enumclaw City Council meeting.

Richard Gardine, speaking for Stonebrook neighbors, said the group "are not opposed to pickleball," but asked the city to remove the pickleball striping at Rainier Trails because daily play since May 2025 has created persistent noise for residents living as close as about 30 feet from the court. "At this point, we are asking for a clear resolution through council action," Gardine said, adding that the parks board had voted two weeks earlier to remove the lines and that funding is available to do resurfacing work this year.

Council members described competing priorities: some said they did not want to take recreational opportunities away from residents, while others stressed fiscal caution about paying to remove lines before replacement courts are ready. Councilmember Storton, who said he lives in the neighborhood and plays pickleball, said he supported removing the lines once Garrett Park has the new courts. "I'm personally as long as Garrett is there, that the, I don't see a reason why the lines at Rainier Trails shouldn't be removed," Storton said. Councilmember Kevin Orsut said the matter was "annoying" and urged waiting until the new courts are resurfaced to avoid paying removal costs twice.

The council signaled support for the committee position to wait: resurfacing at Garrett Park is scheduled to begin May 18 and council members asked staff to revisit the issue after the new courts open. No removal action was taken at the meeting.