HomeMy WebLinkAboutRon Fong 071222 Public Comment #2
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From: Ron Fong, ron.fong@comcast.net <mailto:ron.fong@comcast.net>
To: Administrative Assistant Gail Massagli
Re: Written Comment for 7/13/2022 Parks Commission meeting Agenda item 4.2
My name is Ron Fong, I have lived in Danville for 36 years. I am an avid pickleball player and have
played pickleball for a little over 6 years. I have played pickleball throughout the East Bay but consider
Osage Station Park my home pickleball court since I am just a 5 minute walk away and enjoy all the
friendly people I meet there.
As you know the popularity of pickleball is rapidly growing and is drawing participation from all age
groups. Unfortunately the popularity exceeds the limited facilities at Osage. I play on weekday
mornings (3-4 times a week) and it’s not uncommon to get 25-30 people who show up and want to
play. Often people get tired of waiting and leave for another facility. The next nearest public outdoor
courts are in Walnut Creek, Pleasanton or Livermore.
Since I enjoy the people who come to Osage to play I have on many occasions set up a portable
pickleball net on tennis court “C” to help reduce waiting time on crowded days. Of course before setting
up the portable net, I ensure that court “C” has not already been reserved for tennis. I also understand
that tennis has priority on court “C” and must be shared.
It takes approximately 20 minutes and 200 feet of 2 inch wide blue painters tape each time the portable
net and boundary lines are set up. So once the portable net is set up on court “C” it would be ideal if it
could stay up for the 2-3 hours of peak morning play. Unfortunately I’ve been told that at the current
time reserving tennis courts is only permitted for playing tennis. There is something wrong here, we are
allowed to set up a pickleball net on court “C” and play pickleball but we are not allowed to reserve
court “C” for pickleball.
Until the pickleball facility at Osage is expanded, I am proposing that the Park Commission review the
policy for reserving tennis courts and consider allowing court “C” at Osage Station Park be reservable
for pickleball. Once again tennis would be given priority. This change in policy could be tried out by
limiting pickleball reservation to only certain days and certain hours so as not to interfere with an
organized tennis activity (e.g. league, clinics, classes).
Thanks you for taking the time to read my submitted comment.
Ron Fong