Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 09/10/2020

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To: Mark Riverblood <mriverblood@ci.ramsey.mn.us> Subject: Central Park pickle ball/tennis courts Mark, Thank you for talking to me earlier today (Sept 8) about the courts at Central Park. As a former tennis player (when I was younger), I appreciate good tennis courts just as much as I do good pickle ball (my current activity of choice) courts. Having used all 4 courts at Central Park multiple times a week during the last few years, it is obvious that those courts are in great need of repair/replacement. The top layer of material has bubbled, worn away, cracked, been literally pulled up, etc. in several spots. Being at the park at various times for pickle ball, plus simply riding my bike thru and by Central Park almost daily, very, very rarely is more than 1 tennis court used. Most days when we use the courts for pickle ball, we have enough people to occupy 3 or 4 pickle ball courts, which we currently set up on the 2 tennis courts on the east side of the 4 courts. Having seen some of the pickle ball facilities in neighboring communities, it would seem reasonable to have 2 tennis courts and 4 pickle ball courts within the footprint of the existing tennis courts. Yes, pickle ball is associated with senior citizens, but our group frequently includes 10 & 13 year old e who play pickle ball there regularly (MWF mornings + a few late afternoons each week because some of the players are still working), we would certainly appreciate the Ramsey Parks Commission & Department taking a serious look at making long-lasting improvements with the Central Park Courts. As an unrelated side-note, it gives me great joy to see what a gem Central Park has become. I was a coach/parent 30-40 years ago when it was an infant park with below average ball fields and limited facilities. Many of us spent more than a few Saturdays with shovels and rakes trying to get some of the fields established. Hopefully the tennis/pickle ball courts can be improved to the level of the wonderful ball fields. Thank you for allowing me to give my input. Glen Semanko 6311 169th Lane NW (since 1978) Sent from my iPad Park and Recreation Commission/September 10, 2020 Page 5 of 5