Petition to Revise Tennis Rules at Normandy Shores Park & Fairway Park Tennis Courts

The current rules at the Normandy Shores Park and Fairway Park Tennis Courts prohibit tennis lessons by instructors who are not associated with the Miami Beach Tennis Center. This negatively impacts both Normandy Shores residents and local tennis instructors. Here's why:

The Miami Beach Tennis Center provides coaches at these courts, but many residents have expressed dissatisfaction, stating that these coaches haven’t significantly improved their game. Residents want the option to choose tennis instructors who are not affiliated with the Miami Beach Tennis Center, as the selection of coaches through the center is limited. This restriction prevents players from selecting instructors who best meet their personal needs. 

We propose that independent tennis instructors who are not affiliated with the MBTC can offer lessons exclusively to Normandy Shores residents at these courts, with a $10 court usage fee. This fee will go directly to the city and can be used for court maintenance. Currently, the revenue generated by the Miami Beach Tennis Center does not contribute to maintaining these courts; instead, they profit from the local courts without reinvesting in them!

If the rule remains unchanged, the community will continue to miss out on valuable coaching experiences, and the courts may be underutilized by players seeking more effective coaching. By allowing independent instructors to teach for a small fee, we can provide residents with more coaching options, foster a healthier, more active community, and maintain fair access to the courts.

Petition

We, the undersigned, are residents of Normandy Shores who regularly use the tennis courts at Normandy Shores Park and Fairway Park. We believe that the current rule prohibiting lessons by instructors not affiliated with the Miami Beach Tennis Center is restricting opportunities for both tennis players and coaches.

We propose the following revisions to the existing rules:

Proposed Revisions:

1. Allow Tennis Instructors That Are Not Affiliated With the Miami Beach Tennis Center to Provide Lessons Exclusively to Normandy Shores Residents With a Court Use Fee: Permit instructors to give lessons to Normandy Shores residents at the Normandy Shores Park and Fairway Park tennis courts, provided the instructor pays a fee of $10 per court use. This fee would contribute to the maintenance of the courts and community tennis programs.

2. Implement a Time Limit for Lessons: Each resident is limited to one lesson per day, with a maximum duration of 1 hour, to ensure the courts remain available for other players.

3. Introduce a Reservation System: Residents who want to book court time with a tennis instructor must make their reservation in advance. Each resident is allowed only one booking per day for lessons with an instructor. This system helps prevent overbooking and ensures that all users have fair access to the courts.

4. Require Instructor Registration: Instructors must register with the Miami Beach Parks & Recreation Department and provide proof of liability insurance in case of accidents, injuries, or property damage that might occur during lessons. In addition, they will be subject to a background check. Registered instructors would be given an identification badge or pass to display while giving lessons.

5. Impose Penalties: Impose penalties for non-compliance, such as temporary suspension of court privileges for instructors who fail to follow the rules.

6. Limit the Number of Balls Used by Instructors During Lessons: If a court has adjacent courts on both sides, only 3 tennis balls may be used during lessons. However, if the court is an outer court with only one adjacent court, a ball basket may be used.

Why These Changes are Necessary:
These proposed changes aim to create a fair system that will benefit Normandy Shores residents and enhance the park experience for everyone. By allowing instructors to offer lessons exclusively to residents, and implementing a fee structure, time limits, and registration requirements, we can maintain the quality of the tennis facilities while also supporting the development of tennis skills within the Normandy Shores community.

Call to Action:
We request that the City of Miami Beach and the Miami Beach Parks & Recreation Department consider these proposed revisions to the current rules.

Thank you!
If you support these changes, please sign this petition and help us bring this proposal to the attention of the decision-makers. Thank you for your support in making our tennis courts a better place for everyone!