HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-10-2017 - AsmusRECE11, ED
COUNCIL MEETING: I
ITEM NO,: JAN 0 9 2017
I
From: "Betsy Asmus" <
Date: Sat, Jan 7, 2017 at 1:43 PM -0800
Subject: City of San Luis Obispo - January 10, 2017 Meeting - Parks & Recreation Commission Planning for
2017-2019
To: "E-mail Council Website" <emailcouncil(@slocity.org>
Cc: "Binder Bobbi" < , "Hyduchak Jean" , "Linda Hagen"
, "Zeeb Jim" , "Goldman Bob" <
To the Honorable Mayor Harmon and City Council Members Christianson, Gomez, Pease and Rivoire,
I want to request your support of the Parks & Recreation Commission's goal to update the Parks & Recreation Element
planning document, which is now over 15 year old.
The Parks & Recreation Element calls for 10 acres per 1,000 residents. Currently, there are only 3.3 acres of parks per 1,000
residents (as referenced in LUCE EI). Many of the City's existing parks and recreational needs have gone unmet for many years
or have used this 3.3 acres of parks per 1,000 residents ratio in its planning.
With new home developments, some of which are already in progress, the City's need for additional parks is greater than ever.
Additionally, some of these new home developments are already requesting the City's guidance on to build out the proposed
parks and amenities. As these items come before the City Council and the Parks & Recreation Commission for planning
consideration, it is imperative that both agencies have a complete understanding of its park and recreational needs by way of an
updated policy & planning document.
Much of the draw of residing in the City of San Luis Obispo is that it is a HAPPY PLACE to live and work with lots of
recreational opportunities for people who desire an active lifestyle. You've heard it - "We're living the SLO life!" And
pickleball fits right in that plan as it is the fastest growing recreational sport in the United States, with new courts popping up
daily all across the nation. Our City needs more venues for pickleball play. Building more permanent pickleball courts at the
same pace as approving new housing development is a win-win situation. As new housing developments are approved, the City
can require housing developers to include new parks with permanent pickleball facilities. Also, the City can create additional
permanent courts by repurposing existing under-utilized tennis and basketball courts within the City today.
I'm an active member of the San Luis Obispo Pickleball Club which began with 15 members and in less than a year has grown
to more than 100 members. The Club currently offers 13.5 hours of weekly court time at three City locations - Ludwick
Community Center, Meadow Park and E.A. French Park. Unfortunately, we often have more pickleball players waiting to play
than those playing. We need more courts. Permanent courts. And more playing time on those courts.
It is my opinion that the City Council needs to fund and conduct a needs assessment to create such a guiding document for the
future planning, acquisition and development of it's parks and recreation spaces and constituents. I feel it is very important to
support this goal from the Parks & Recreation Commission and I hope you will support it as well. It is also my hope that the
Commission and Council will support the expansion of pickleball by including plans for it in the future.
All the best,
Betsy Asmus