No Pickleball Line at Nye Park: During a packed meeting on September 11 at the Gus Canty Community Center, the Falmouth Recreation Committee faced passionate arguments from both sides over the future of pickleball at Nye Park. The central issue? Whether to paint additional pickleball lines on the existing tennis courts, a proposal that split opinions between players of both sports and local residents.
Pickleball Enthusiasts Push for More Courts
Joseph R. Brodsky, a frequent pickleball player at Nye Park, led the charge for expanding pickleball at the park. He argued that consolidating more courts in one location would ease crowding and offer more space for the growing number of players. “There is almost always a crowd [at Nye Park] with four pickleball courts full,” Brodsky said.
However, the plan met resistance from local residents, who voiced concerns over the potential increase in noise. Maura L. Aldrich, one of the most vocal opponents, pointed to the negative impact on the neighborhood. “It shouldn’t be done, because not only are the tennis players suffering, the pickleball players are suffering [and] real estate values are dropping,” Aldrich noted.
Committee Clarifies Role, Recommends No Changes
Despite the heated debate, the recreation committee clarified that their role was advisory only and that any changes to the court layout would need to be addressed by the select board and voted on in Town Meeting. Chairman Robert Brown emphasized that altering the court layout wasn’t within their immediate power. “I don’t know how you make a change to something that was already voted on in a select board and Town Meeting,” he said.
After hearing numerous complaints and conflicting reports on the number of pickleball players waiting to use the courts, the committee ultimately voted to recommend against painting pickleball lines on the tennis courts. This decision seemed to shut down the possibility of the proposed change.
Need for More Courts Acknowledged
While the immediate proposal was rejected, the need for more courts was a unifying theme for many in attendance. Both pickleball and tennis players agreed that Falmouth is in desperate need of more athletic courts. Sandra L. Cuny, vice chairwoman of the committee, acknowledged this but stood firm in her position not to disrupt the tennis players’ experience. “While I agree we need more pickleball courts … I will not agree to paint pickleball lines over the tennis courts,” she said, earning applause from the crowd.
Richard Boles, another committee member, stressed the importance of collaboration between both tennis and pickleball communities to push for more facilities. “If we continue with this pickleball versus tennis, the lines, we’re not gonna make any progress,” Boles said, suggesting both groups advocate together for a better venue.
News in Brief : No Pickleball Line at Nye Park
The Falmouth Recreation Committee met on September 11 to address a proposal to add pickleball lines to the tennis courts at Nye Park. The committee voted to recommend against the change after hearing concerns about noise and the impact on tennis players. Despite this decision, both pickleball and tennis players agree that more courts are needed in Falmouth. The committee encouraged players from both sports to unite in advocating for new facilities, potentially at Trotting Park.
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