Evergreen Pickleball Club Voices Need for Additional Courts
EPRD strategic planning sessions were held in January to help prioritize Evergreen community needs. Our pickleball club was well represented explaining the dire need for additional indoor and outdoor facilities. Ideas for accomplishing this included building a gymnasium onto the existing Buchanan center, using the Bergan elementary school after it closes next year, adding courts at Marshdale and using other land that EPRD owns.
Other local groups advocating for facilities included a baseball park, dog park, aquatic center, community garden extensions, indoor tennis, senior center, before and after school child care, affordable housing and other creative programs for teens and young children.
EPRD took at vote at the end of each session to see how many people attending would be willing to have their property taxes increased to fund their programs. A large majority said they would agree to property tax increases.
A task force was proposed to consider creative ideas on how to provide for the community’s projects. That would be the next phase of this planning. A Community Survey is coming in March 2023.
Reminder of Time Changes
Monday, Feb 13: 9:30 - 11 Intermediate Play & No Advanced Play
Wednesday, Feb 22: 7 - 8:30 Intermediate Play - Advanced 10:30 - 11:30
Just a quick reminder that the Evergreen High School PE instructor is bringing his students to play pickleball at Wulf and our court times have changed.
Listen for lots of laughter in the gym from our rising pickleball stars.
From our USA Pickleball Ambassador Linda Jacobsen
Ambassador’s Reflections 2/7/23 Hello! You may or may not have noticed I was gone for a while. For those of you who don’t know me, I am your USA Pickleball Ambassador and a member of the EPC Board. I had a major foot surgery followed by three months of healing, PT and isolation. It’s great and scary to be back on the courts. I was quite touched and actually verklempt my first full day back.
I cannot tell you how much I missed pickleball, my life, my friends, being able to walk and having a life. It’s wonderful to be back. Thank you so much for the warm welcome. Thank you also for being patient with my lameness, if I were a filly, you might shoot me.
We often take simple things for granted, like walking to the bathroom or driving a car. I’m going to try very hard to appreciate the simple liberties and freedoms that I dearly missed for a few months.
With age comes wisdom, injuries and too often illness. Let’s be kind and gentle with one another, on and off the courts.
Hugs, LindaJ
Considering Tennis Players Perspectives of Expanding Pickleball Courts
Many of us who play the pickle game have played tennis at some point in our lives. We may not understand the prevailing attitudes of tennis players who have not yet experienced the smaller courts and louder, harder balls. When they do give pickleball a change, they often appreciate how much fun it is.
Until this happens, however, there exists animosity towards pickleball players encroaching on tennis courts. We are reminded that tennis players are losing courts they have relied on for decades.
Here are some articles from The New York Times:
A Cultural Battle: Tennis enthusiasts and pickleballers are pitted against each other in a clash that goes beyond the fight for court space.
A Tennis Player’s Perspective: A Times columnist who grew up playing competitive tennis took up a paddle to see what all the fuss was about.
Knowing the compromise tennis players are making all over the country, as well as in our little community, we might be more sensitive to their concerns.
Pickleball Next Steps Class Mar 4 & 11
Register online for age 12 and up at Wulf Rec Center. Times: 8:30 am - 10 am.
The Beginner classes for February are filled as are the Intermediate Skills and Drills. Watch for future openings to learn and practices skills.