Neighbors press council over pickleball noise; council to wait for Garrett Park resurfacing

Neighbors told the Incla City Council on April 27 that added pickleball lines at Rainier Trails Park have produced daily noise that affects homes near the park and asked the city to remove the lines.

Richard Gardine, a Stonebrook resident, said the issue began after pickleball lines were added in May 2025 and that a group plays daily in summer months. “Some of our properties are as close as 30 feet away,” Gardine said, and told council that the parks board had already passed a motion to remove the pickleball lines and that funding is available to restore the court to tennis-only.

Council discussion split on timing. Councilmember Storton, who lives in the neighborhood and said he plays pickleball, supported removing the lines: “I will go on the record and say that I'm personally as long as Garrett is there, that the lines at Rainier Trails shouldn't be left in place.” By contrast, Councilmember Kevin Orsut urged fiscal caution about immediately paying to remove lines: “I think it's kind of wasteful that we're now spending tax dollars to remove lines.” Several council members recommended waiting until Garrett Park's resurfacing and new courts open (work set to start May 18) to see whether play shifts to that facility before removing lines at Rainier Trails.

The council did not vote; members asked staff to revisit the issue at the May 18 meeting after the Garrett Park improvements are underway.

The parks board decision to remove lines, residents’ complaints about noise, the existence of funding to resurface the Rainier Trails court and the planned Garrett Park courts were all discussed by staff and council members, who recommended against immediate action to avoid unnecessary expense and to assess use once the new courts are available.