HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/2/2021 Item 11, Fowler
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Rick Fowler <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Public Comment on Proposed Pickleball Courts at Mitchell Park
Council Members,
Today I write to the San Luis Obispo City Council in strong opposition to the proposal to build pickleball courts at
Mitchell Park.
I frame this opposition in the form of two questions:
First, how many people do you think actually play pickleball relative to how many people use the park for all other
purposes?
When I see this proposal, I do not just see a city council asking for permission to build a court for a niche sport on a great
piece of city green space that's available to all. I see a hostile move to force undesirable elements off public land, be it
unhoused individuals with nowhere else to go, or peaceful protesters who stand opposed to injustices in their
community. This is evidenced by the actions of the police department trying in the past to misapply fire code regulations
to prevent access to the park by the public, as well as the text of this very invite for public comment, which included this
sentence:
"Some community members have expressed concern about the city's growing homeless population and groups who
have routinely gathered at the park as well, putting kids' safety at risk if drug paraphernalia and unsanity items are left
around."
That leads me to my next question, do you people really think bulldozing part of the green space for this, will
somehow fix these issues?
This proposal is not a solution to solve homelessness or social injustice. It doesn't do anything to help kids. It is simply a
mutilation of a good little park to try and make people you don't like go away, but it will not work because it addresses
no actual causes or provides any real solutions.
If you want Mitchell Park to be frequented by fewer unhoused human beings and home to fewer protests, then house
the homeless and hear the people crying out for help. Don't insult us with this half-baked project or we will
remember when it's time to reelect you.
Sincerely,
Rick Fowler
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