Tennis courts

I am a resident of Severna Park and like to play tennis. During the dark months of the COVID-19 crisis, I looked forward to mild weather and playing tennis outside. Particularly since tennis is a safely-distanced participant sport.

I live near Anne Arundel County’s Cypress Creek public courts. I was dismayed that again this year, the courts are reserved for the private Severn School tennis teams from 2:30-5:30 p.m. every weekday from March 1 to May 15. Groups of tennis players from the community begin to line up as early at 4:30 p.m. to get on the courts when the Severn School teams depart at 5:30 p.m.

I contacted the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks about this odd arrangement. I was told that the Recreation and Parks sees the Severn School as a community-based youth organization “just like the Green Hornets.” I have subsequently learned that the Severn School also has seasonal block reservations for soccer and baseball fields at Kinder Park, further limiting access by the residents of the county to public facilities.

This is absurd. An exclusive private institution like the Severn School should not dominate access during prime time to recreational facilities built and maintained by Anne Arundel County. The fact that these arrangements have been in place for years is not a justification.

The Severn School is a fine institution, and I am happy to have the school as a neighbor. However, the county’s definition of the Severn School as a community-based organization open to the public is fundamentally wrong-headed. Anne Arundel county should not lock its residents out of public spaces for the benefit of a private institution.