Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) will update racquet court hours at Gilman Playground starting September 15, 2025, and launch an open-play pickleball pilot at Green Lake East on October 1.
At Gilman Playground—as well as Laurelhurst Playfield and Mt. Baker Park—courts will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends and City-observed holidays. The change follows noise studies with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections showing that play at these sites exceeded city sound limits under Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 25.08.
To enforce the new hours, SPR has outlined a compliance process: violations documented with timestamped visual evidence will result in temporary locks for a minimum of 30 days, with staff managing access. Locks will be removed after the initial period unless repeat violations occur, in which case permanent locks will be installed.
At Green Lake East, the new one-year pickleball pilot will provide scheduled open-play times—Monday 8–10 a.m., Wednesday 1–3 p.m., Saturday 9–11 a.m., and Sunday 4–6 p.m.—using a paddle stacking system to rotate players. Ambassadors will be on site during open-play hours to help organize games.
SPR says the changes aim to balance recreational opportunities with the needs of nearby residents. More information and guidelines are available at seattle.gov/parks/about-us/projects/racquet-sports.