Yesterday, a group of pickleball players staged a successful sit-in at our courts. Despite the Park Authority removing a tennis net mid-game from a group of retired Annandale citizens, they stayed strong and respectfully declined to leave the courts. The Park Authority claimed they were there to perform 'routine' maintenance, but in reality, they were starting the conversion of the courts to tennis-only.
The issue of equity has come up multiple times in our battle to keep a valuable meeting spot for our community. Part of why pickleball has exploded in popularity is because it is an equitable sport; it can be played by all ages, ethnicities, and income levels. My husband immigrated to the United States at age 32 and isn't always confident in his English-speaking ability. Yet on the pickleball court, that doesn’t matter—he is a welcome addition to all our games, even if he makes funny noises, takes running shots that tend to go right at his opponents' faces, and leaves his partner alone to cover the court. Language skills are not a prerequisite to play pickleball.
Additionally, from an equity standpoint, why is it okay to use money to fix something that is not broken when there are actual broken things that need to be fixed? The tennis courts at Justice are in terrible condition, and those courts serve not only the community but also the students at Justice, many of whom come from families with diverse economic and cultural backgrounds. Why is it acceptable to invest in an unnecessary and unwanted project while those in need of service and help are not taken care of? It seems that the Park Authority should prioritize communities and spaces that need help and support. However, the Park Authority has made taking away something from the community its most pressing issue.
Chairman McKay has stated he disagrees with Ms. Cole’s decision to remove the pickleball courts at Kendale Woods. He is not the only one with the opinion that this is the wrong decision for our community; nearly everyone is baffled as to why this is such a top priority for the Park Authority. It’s such a priority that workers came out before 7:00 am on a Friday to begin work on these courts. It’s such a priority that Park Authority staff were sent out after 10:00 pm on Friday to put a lock on the court.
An important part of leadership is being able to learn, listen, and adjust and correct your course when you realize you're headed down the wrong path. Ms. Cole has had many opportunities to adjust, correct, and listen to the community. Yet for some reason, she has dug in her heels and is standing firm on her one-person stance. This was never and still isn't personal against Ms. Cole or the Park Authority—this petition and our fight has always been about what is best for our community.
Our community is active, connected, and cares about each other, and these courts are part of what brings us together. Just yesterday, I was talking with some retired Annandale residents who I would never have gotten to know if it weren't for pickleball. These courts have turned strangers into friends and have brought our community together while promoting physical and mental health. What more could the Park Authority ask for in meeting the needs of its residents?