HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/4/2020 Item 4, Asmus, Chuck
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Betsy Asmus <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:PRC Communication
March 4, 2020
PRC Communication
My name is Chuck Asmus. I am a resident of the City of San Luis Obispo and a lifelong sports enthusiast
who, since retiring, now plays pickleball.
Like it or not, French Park is the premier location in the City of San Luis Obispo for pickleball. It has the
facilities - three dedicated pickleball courts, four shared-use courts (pickleball and tennis), restrooms,
parking and an event area for meetings, BBQ and picnics. It is where people go to play pickleball.
Since the permanent courts opened last September 2019, there has been a large uptick of new local
resident players who have gravitated to playing pickleball at French Park. I find that French Park has also
become a “pickleball destination” for out-of-town players from within SLO County, out-of-state and even
out-of-country guests find us while traveling through San Luis Obispo. People are traveling these days
with their paddle tucked into their luggage and always ready to play, looking for a court location, and
some friendly picklers for a local pick-up game. We are pickleball ambassadors for the City of San Luis
Obispo.
SLO Pickleball Club provides free pickleball instruction on a weekly basis at French Park Lower
(tennis/pickleball) Courts on Thursday mornings. This program has been going steady for over five years
now and provides a gateway to the Club for new players after teaching them the rules & strategies of the
game. Anyone can step on to the court and play - ANYTIME. I have played with people as young as 5
years old to seniors who are 93 years young. It is all about stepping outdoors, getting some exercise,
having fun while playing and the social aspect of the game is a big draw.
It does not make sense that the fastest growing sport which embraces EVERYONE (regardless of race,
age, gender or skill level) is being reined in after watching our Club and the French Park pickleball court
usage more than double in just the last two years.
To the contrary, the City should continue its support and development of pickleball for residents and
guests of the City of San Luis Obispo. Pickleball is growing at a rapid rate nationally and that is well
reflected here in our City. I hope that we can all grow together.
Thank you for your time and I want to go on record that I think curtailing the French Park pickleball
program is the wrong thing to do.
Chuck Asmus
3218 Fennel Ln
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
acepoppa@yahoo.com
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