The Good Book says ask and you shall receive, and, while it doesn’t always work like that with local government, sometimes it does work and sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
One of the hottest trends that has taken Guilford County – and the rest of the nation – by storm is the sport of pickleball, and, if Guilford County residents want to see more courts added by county government, parks and recreation officials are putting out the word that they need to ask for it.
Now is the perfect time to do that because, as the Rhino Times reported earlier this week, the Parks Department is formulating its county-wide parks master plan that will shape the nature of the county’s park offerings and facilities for years to come.
Parks Marketing and Special Events Coordinator Tristan Bailey stated in an email this week that it’s important pickleball lovers express their interests if they want to see more courts.
“It’s worth noting,” she wrote in an email “that any future developments related to pickleball courts will align with the guidance provided by the comprehensive parks, trails, and open spaces master plan. To ensure that residents have a say in shaping the future of our parks, the Parks Department extends an invitation to actively participate in two upcoming community engagement events.”
In the summer of 2021, the county’s Parks Department added ten new pickleball courts at Bur-Mil Park, which is at 5834 Bur-Mil Club Road in Greensboro.
Currently, those are the only pickleball courts offered by the county.
Except in cases when the ten courts are reserved for special programs, they’re open to the general public for free on a first-come, first-served basis during regular park hours, which run from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The input events where pickleball players can make their case will take place as follows:
• Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Guilford County Department of Social Services at 1203 Maple St. Greensboro
• Wednesday, Feb. 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Northeast Park at 3441 Northeast Park Dr. Gibsonville.
In CA cities they actually block off sections of the downtown streets during portions of the day to allow people to play pickleball so no new courts have to be built. Easy and affordable solution. (I have photos because I was stunned.)