Greenwich Parks & Recreation Pickleball Funding CUT IN COMMITTEE
On April 28, the Budget Oversight Committee of the RTM voted ‘yea’ on a James Waters (District 12) motion to amend the budget and cut Pickleball funding.
Pickleball players can act now to save the $116K in funding prior to the Mon, May 9 RTM meeting.
IMPORTANT!
This funding is no longer earmarked for Bible Street.
The BET imposed funding conditions designed protect ALL Greenwich communities as Parks & Rec considers locations and strategies to improve Pickleball access for residents.
Other Actions
Be sure you’ve subscribed to the GreenwichPickleball.com email newsletter.
Mark your calendar for Monday, May 9 at 7PM at Central Middle School or zoom, and save this link for the BIG Full RTM Budget vote meeting.
Take a moment to read about how the Bible Street Neighborhood got taken by surprise by town Pickleball decisions.
If you haven’t already (and you’re a Greenwich Resident) Sign the Pickleball Petition created by Candace Garthwaite.
You may want to connect with the official Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation Pickleball Committee.
What holds Greenwich back from adding more Pickleball courts in response to Pickleball’s immense popularity among over 800 Greenwich residents? The answer is money.
Here’s the story timeline.
A motion was presented at the Tues, March 8 BET budget review meeting to REINSTATE the $116K for Pickleball Courts on Bible Street that had been previously cut from the Fiscal Year 22 budget and moved to FY23 by Parks & Recreation.
This motion passed 3 to 1 with BET members Nisha Arora, Laura Erickson, and Leslie Moriarty for reinstatement and BET Budget Chair Leslie Tarkington against.
The Public Budget Hearing on Monday, March 28 was well attended (in person and via Zoom). Four avid community picklers, members of the Town Parks and Recreation Pickleball Committee spoke to support funding for additional Pickleball Courts.
Then, the Bible Street neighborhood got wind of this plan. Can you say surprised? That’s an understatement. They rightly pushed back, and the funding is no longer earmarked for Bible Street.
Also, the BET placed conditions on the funding on April 19.
This is a good thing! The funding conditions will ensure a thoughtful, fair process.
On April 19, with these conditions in place, the $116K Pickleball funding in the capital budget was approved by the BET.
Don’t heave a sign of relief just yet! The $116K (conditional funds) must survive the full RTM vote on Monday, May 9 - where the RTM can consider making line item cuts. In 2021 four line item cuts were made to the capital budget, each requiring a majority vote.
Because Bible Street was dealt dirty, they aren’t feeling much confidence in the process of location selection, even with the protections afforded by the conditions and the BET’s role as funding watch dog.
We really can’t blame the Bible Street District 8 RTM members if they vote to cut Pickleball funding at the May 9 RTM Meeting. But protecting Bible Street wasn’t the least of our worries.
On April 28, the Budget Oversight Committee of the RTM successfully voted on a James Waters (District 12) motion to amend the budget and cut Pickleball funding. The reasons? No location for courts has yet been selected and Pickleball, in a tight budget environment is a ‘nice to have’.
The last gasp for Pickleball funding is at 7PM on May 9 when the full RTM will vote on line item cuts approved in committee, including Pickleball.
So now Picklers should start reaching out to their own RTM District Members.
We think the conditions protect all Greenwich communities, and that the BET will do the right thing.
We believe that the process will be fair and an appropriate location will be found to increase Pickleball access.
We understand that if the right location isn’t identified to the satisfaction of the BET, that the funding won’t be released.
What we love about Pickleball…
Pickleball has a Positive Social Impact and Builds Community
Pickleball (played outdoors) is COVID friendly
Pickleball can be played by all ages, 4-94, is easy to learn
Pickleball is inexpensive to offer and existing facilities are easily adapted or converted
Pickleball equipment is affordable
Pickleball can be played indoors and outside all year long
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America, two years in a row, with a 2 year 39% growth rate and 4.8 million players
Pickleball participation surged during COVID as a physical, social and mental outlet
News about Pickleball Funding in other Communities
Town of Greenwich Priorities
Many Greenwich Pickleball players are longtime Greenwich residents and raised their children in town.
We understand that making significant expenditures to maintain schools and youth sports programs help keep our home values high by making Greenwich a desirable place to live.
But let’s not forget that Greenwich has a significant active 50+ population, older on average than most other towns in Fairfield County due to our high real estate values.
The quality of life of older residents - physical, mental and social - is equally important. Adult services, including sought after recreation opportunities and facilities like Pickleball, also affect home values.
That said, Pickleball crosses all demographic lines and town geographies, its not just for retirees! This makes it the perfect sport to invest in for the good of the greater community. Pickleball is being taught in PhysEd at Western Middle School and at the Boys and Girls Club.
Greenwich lags behind other communities like Westport, New Canaan, Fairfield & Southport. Leaders in neighboring Fairfield County towns are choosing to go all-in on Pickleball, recognizing its value to the community, young and old.
Listen in as four avid Pickleball Players spoke at the March 28, 2022 Public Budget Hearing before the 12 Member Board of Estimate and Taxation in support of keeping $116K for funding Pickleball courts in Greenwich. Hear what they had to say!