Given the limited amount of existing and potential recreation space in the City of Piedmont, PRD should explore using Linda-Beach Courts for multi-recreational activities instead of focusing solely on pickleball for several reasons. By introducing other recreational activities, PRD can cater to a more diverse range of interests and engage a broader community of sports enthusiasts. Multi-use courts would offer greater flexibility and accommodate various sports optimizing the use of the available space and resources. 

Firstly, at the February 2023 PRD Commission Meeting, a Piedmont mom called in and asked the Committee to remember and consider not fully converting Linda Beach Courts into solely pickleball use. In August 2022, PUSD volleyball players and several Piedmont residents players were told that even though interest levels suggest courts would be well utilized if built, because of its single sport usage and limited recreational space in the community PRD could not support their request. PRD concluded that presently, the need should be met via a PRD-PUSD collaboration. By restricting the Beach Courts to pickleball only, frankly, feels like a contradiction to what was previously said by PRD.

Secondly, while pickleball utilization may appear high at Linda Beach Courts, the data is skewed because of what was not presented. PRD must consider the lack of utilization at the PMS courts which were previously open for play 4pm-8pm weekdays and 9am-3pm weekends. In fact, the PMS courts have been almost completely empty on weekends from 9am-5pm designated hours during the pickleball trial at Beach courts. At the June Recreation Committee meeting, an Oakland neighbor reported that since discovering free and no reservation required courts in Piedmont, she now plays here several times per week rather than utilizing her own local courts. Therefore, the suggested demand for pickleball specific to Piedmont is falsely inflated.  

Additionally, the current proposal for 9-6 pickleball only at LindaBeach leaves precious recreation space deliberately unused before and after. In addition, from 4pm-6pm, the middle school courts are available and Linda Beach could be used for other activities. It's unclear that 10 courts are needed during that time. Could this space better serve us during those after school hours? 

Lastly, supporting other sports activities alongside pickleball would reduce the risk of over-reliance on a single sport, which may experience fluctuations in popularity over time. This would provide a safety net for recreational programs, ensuring the community can enjoy various activities regardless of the ebb and flow of pickleball’s popularity.

In conclusion, PRDs initial conclusion to the question of sand volleyball courts should apply to the question of pickleball only courts. Recreation "space is at a premium" and  through a multi-use approach, PRD can better serve the community’s diverse recreation and sports interests and ensure that the facilities are utilized to their fullest potential. Changing the Linda Beach courts from their multi-use status to single use fails to serve the whole community. Previous collaboration with PUSD for use of the PMS pickleball courts is in line with PRDs recommendations for supporting other sports, provides pickleball players more courts on evenings and weekends, and maintains best functionality of the Linda Beach court. 

Sign the below petition to vote no for pickleball only courts and demand that PRD explore other options for assessing and meeting the needs of the pickleball community that would not limit a court to single sport usage.