Fletcher Middle School Push for Pickleball: In the heart of Palo Alto, pickleball courts are becoming as common as the local coffee shop, with Mitchell Park leading the charge in the sport’s meteoric rise. Yet, amidst this pickleball frenzy, one group of students remains sidelined: the kids at Fletcher Middle School.
Fletcher’s Pickleball Shortfall
While Fletcher’s counterparts—JLS and Greene Middle Schools, as well as high schools Paly and Gunn—enjoy access to pickleball facilities, Fletcher students have yet to experience the sport firsthand. The reason? Fletcher’s fields are situated in Terman Park, a city-owned space, rather than on school district property. This distinction has left Fletcher out of the pickleball revolution that’s sweeping through the city.
Hope on the Horizon: Proposal Review
But there’s hope on the horizon. The Parks and Recreation Commission is set to address this oversight in their upcoming meeting on July 23. They’ll review a proposal to add eight pickleball courts adjacent to the existing tennis courts at Terman Park. This initiative aims to provide Fletcher’s physical education classes, middle school students, and city-run after-school programs with dedicated pickleball space. However, the proposal explicitly excludes broader community access, focusing instead on school and city-affiliated activities.
Community Backing and Noise Control
The plan also includes a thoughtful consideration for local residents. To mitigate noise concerns, the new courts would close by 5:30 p.m., ensuring that the sounds of pickleball do not disrupt the peace of the nearby neighborhoods.
Support for the pickleball proposal is coming in strong from Fletcher’s community. School staff and parents are rallying behind the initiative. Maria Reynolds, a parent of a Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) student, has voiced her support in a recent email to the city.
“Pickleball is a very approachable sport, accessible to students of all athletic abilities. And, as such, pickleball is a great opportunity to positively impact our students’ mental health.” – (Maria Reynolds)
As the commission prepares to deliberate, the addition of pickleball courts at Terman Park could mark a pivotal moment for Fletcher Middle School. It’s a move that not only promises to level the playing field but also to enrich the lives of the students who’ve been waiting for their turn to join the pickleball wave.
News in Brief: Fletcher Middle School Push for Pickleball
In Palo Alto, pickleball is booming, but Fletcher Middle School students have been left out due to their fields being at city-owned Terman Park, not school property. While other local schools have pickleball access, Fletcher lacks facilities. However, hope is on the horizon as the Parks and Recreation Commission reviews a proposal on July 23 to add eight pickleball courts at Terman Park.
The proposal targets school and city programs, with courts closing by 5:30 p.m. to address noise concerns. Community support is strong, with parents like Maria Reynolds demanding for the sport’s benefits for students’ mental health. The addition of these courts could significantly enhance opportunities for Fletcher students.
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