HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/4/2020 Item 4, Boscaro
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Judi Boscaro <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:PRC Communication
I have just become aware that the Parks & Recreation Committee has recently recommended to
significantly restrict access for Pickleball players on the French Park Lower Courts.
I am amazed that this even crossed the minds of anyone in the Parks & Recreation department as the
use of those courts are of great benefit to our ever increasing community of Pickleball players in San Luis
Obispo. I am a "senior" player (71 years old), have been playing Pickleball in this area for the past four
years and have recently noticed that more and more younger players are also utilizing the available
courts in San Luis Obispo. I have been extremely appreciative of the efforts and past support of the
Parks and Recreation department for Pickleball and the new permanent courts at French Park have been
a wonderful addition however, this still does not address the ongoing problem of long wait times on
certain days. In fact, I often find myself driving to Shell Beach to play at the courts there on Tuesdays as
the current seven available courts at French Park are so busy, and the wait times to play there have
become increasingly longer. If Pickleball play is restricted in any way there will be more people finding it
necessary to drive longer distances to find available courts and this will only add to the traffic problems
that are gradually increasing in our area.
Please consider carefully the impact the recommended restrictions will have on not only our senior
community but also on our increasing younger community of Pickleball players. I thought SLO was
becoming a model to other towns on how to promote a healthy active lifestyle but now I am not so sure. If
the Tennis players in our area have an issue with the Pickleball players use of the lower French Park
court please remind them that there are many other tennis courts in SLO exclusively for their use - and
that one tennis court can support 16 Pickleball players at a time compared to 4 Tennis players. If I
remember correctly there are certain times already that, if Pickleball players are "first" on the courts they
can continue playing for a set amount of time but then need to concede to the waiting Tennis players.
This also works in the reverse. This seems like a sensible way to continue without completely "restricting"
use on multiple days and times.
Yours Sincerely
Judi Boscaro
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