HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/4/2020 Item 4, Asmus, Betsy
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Beth Asmus <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:PRC Communication
PRC Communication
Hello. My name is Betsy Asmus. I have been involved with sports my entire life - as a youth sports
program head coach for AYSO, T-Ball and assistant coach for Baseball, Intercollegiate Women’s Softball
and Volleyball head coach, and as a former college Athletic Director. Today, I am a Pickleball player.
Pickleball is a sport that avails itself to everyone. It is the ultimate inclusive sport like no other sport.
Pickleball is inexpensive to play, easy and quick to learn, and a great choice for people of all ages,
genders and skill levels. Pickleball can move large numbers of people on and off the court in a small
amount of time when there is adequate court play time allocated. It is a very social, fun and inclusive
sport.
I’m writing today to share some points of contention after reading the City of San Luis Obispo Park &
Recreation Department’s (where after PRD) recommendation to REDUCE access to the community’s
pickleball court play time at French Park.
1. What is the reason that the Park & Recreation Department (PRD) is recommending reductions to
court play time for pickleball? The City’s pickleball program has grown rapidly in just a
few years and is a huge success.
3. Why has the PRD elected to undermine the hard work that the SLO Pickleball Club has invested
over the past few years in building an excellent community pickleball program for City residents
and guests?
4. SLO Pickleball Club has an active membership of 150+ players. French Park’s Upper
(permanent) Courts and Lower (tennis/pickleball) Courts are at full capacity daily under the City’s
current scheduled court play times. Additionally, there are often as many as 20 players waiting to
rotate onto the courts. Why is the PRD’s recommendation not to increase court play time rather
than cut back the days and hours of pickleball play? This seems counterintuitive.
5. Why are the SLO Pickleball Club’s player participation statistics being ignored by the PRD?
6. Why isn't the PRD’s recommendation to convert the French Park Lower (tennis/pickleball) courts
to permanent pickleball courts instead of restrict the current court time schedule for pickleball
play? The SLO Pickleball Club has already volunteered to step-up to fundraise for just such as
project.
7. On what basis has the PRD made their decision/recommendation to expand tennis play at French
Park at the expense of pickleball play when the statistics clearly demonstrate the opposite should
be done? How does the PRD justify their recommendation?
8. Does the PRD realize that the current multi-use agreement between tennis and pickleball has
been working in the afternoons at French Park Lower (tennis/pickleball) Courts?
9. Why is the PRD fostering the divide between the tennis and pickleball communities?
10. Why is the PRD refusing to tout and support the success of the high court usage under the
current multi-use facility agreement between the tennis and pickleball communities?
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Thank you for your attention to my concerns about the City of San Luis Obispo Parks & Recreation
Department’s recommendation to reduce the pickleball community’s access to court time at French
Park.
Betsy Asmus
A tax-paying citizen and resident of the City of San Luis Obispo
betsyasmus@me.com (805)709-2683
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