Remember that Seattle Parks memo we reported on last week that was so mostly logical that it didn’t really cause a stir even though it laid the groundwork for banning fixie polo and allowing dodgeball on the Cal Anderson sports courts? Don’t worry about it. We remember it. Anyway, the Seattle Parks Board discussed the plan last Thursday night and… well.. they took a fairly straightforward solution and… we’ll leave it to SeattleBikeBlog to explain!
Now, here’s where things get complicated. At their meeting Thursday, the Board of Parks Commissioners, a volunteer citizen advisory committee for the Parks Department, passed a motion approving the plan as an 18-month pilot on up to three courts in the city. They then discussed it further and got tied into a Robert’s Rules of Order knot for a little bit before basically saying that Parks should move forward with Cal Anderson and Judkins Parks as their pilot courts.
News release from Parks is below.
SEATTLE PARKS TO ALLOW DODGEBALL, BIKE POLO
AT ONE CAL ANDERSON PARK TENNIS COURT
Bike polo to be allowed at Judkins Park courts
Following a public process and a recommendation from the Board of Park Commissioners, Seattle Parks and Recreation Acting Superintendent Christopher Williams has decided to allow dodgeball and bike polo at one of the two Cal Anderson Park tennis courts for 18 months starting today.
The second court at Cal Anderson Park is for tennis only, and Parks will post signage stating that. Bike polo and dodgeball are also allowed at the two concrete courts at Judkins Park, 2150 S Norman St., for 18 months. The Judkins Park courts are not separated by a fence.
“We believe we’ve forged a reasonable compromise that will accommodate both tennis players and people who participate in newly popular sports and need a place to play,” Williams said. “In the coming weeks we will work with representatives of all these groups to draft a courtesy code that will make sure all players show each other mutual respect and that they care for this public property.”
At the Cal Anderson Park tennis court, 1635 11th Ave., and at Judkins Park, dodgeball and bike polo play will take place on a first-come, first-served basis. Players can call the Parks Athletic Office at 206-684-4062, to reserve the courts at either park. All other tennis courts are for tennis use only.
At the end of the 18-month period, Parks staff will conduct an evaluation of the success of the arrangement, and will make a recommendation to the Park Board on whether to continue it.
