When will pickleball letters stop?

It has astounded me how many letters there have been, yet all have had legitimate questions or presented alternatives to the design.

The level of community engagement and passion reveals how many people use this park and see it as a significant recreational space for the neighbourhood. So, one would think there couldn’t be much more to add, but I have a few thoughts.

The councillors have voted, the park will be remodelled, but I am certain there is still time to reconsider the design.

The city has meticulously maintained the surface of the tennis courts; they are flat, fenced and there is lighting. Could those courts be retrofitted to pickleball courts (currently, two already are painted with pickleball lines)?

Then, not as many would need to be built. It’s more than saving money. The thought that something in perfect working order would be deemed useless is wasteful in so many aspects.

It’s hard to imagine that other than a during a tournament would an oversized parking lot be required. The city could approach the McDonnell Community Centre to use their very underused parking lot across the street for overflow.

Currently there are two ball diamonds, a skate park and four tennis courts, and I have never observed a parking problem. There is also the carpool option.

Also comments like there is a park across the street are not helpful. Any visitor to that green space will see a disc golf course, dog walkers, a basketball court, a play structure and a new plash pad, so that grassed area is already heavily used.

We all have different visions for Bonnerworth Park, but let’s ask the planners to consider a design that’s in the spirit of our city, a compromise. Jill Emery, Peterborough