lobbying the parks department

Good afternoon.

I found you guys by accident while looking for the roller hockey people. The Seattle Parks Department currently does not allow any use other than tennis on tennis courts. Yet they provide no other smooth, flat surfaces to practice any other sport. I see that you guys barge in on an elementary school playground. I do what is called freestyle slalom skating - basically I do tricks on a line of cones. I'm trying to round up everyone in town who does some non-mainstream sport which needs an area that the Parks Department does not provide.

I don't know who is "in charge", if anyone, of your activities. But if they would like to show up to a Parks Department meeting and give a 2 minute talk about the need for areas for non-mainstream sports in Seattle that would be great. By all means send me an email if you are that person and you are interested in helping out with this project.

A little background - I've been aware of this issue for quite some time as we need smooth pavement. Obviously if you guys play on shoes your needs aren't so specific. But recently I caught wind that the dodgeball players who take over a tennis court down on Capitol Hill got kicked off again and they were lobbying the Parks Department yet again to be authorized to use the space. So I went down and gave my 2 minutes the same night that the dodgeball guy did. And since then I've been contacting other groups in town so we're organized. The next Parks Commission meeting is Sept 9. This one is informational. It does have an option to give a 2 minute talk but it's main purpose is a report from a Parks manager on the idea of using tennis courts for other things. The following meeting, Sept 23, will have a proper public hearing on the issue. And then at the next meeting in October the Commission is going to make a recommendation.

I will be going to both September meetings. What I'm looking for is more groups / organizations to send someone to the Sept 23 meeting to give their 2 minutes. Doesn't have to be fancy; just who you are, what your activity is, and your desire for more areas to do your activity in Seattle.