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FW_ Tennis in Boulder 12_RedactedFrom:Adams, Taishya To:Rivera-Vandermyde, Nuria; Rhodes, Alison Subject:FW: Tennis in Boulder Date:Wednesday, May 15, 2024 8:41:10 PM Is there an upcoming Parks and Rec study session? It would be helpful to have a public discussion about demand versus supply. In the interim, can you point me to the latest report on current park/rec services, costs, and usage to inform that discussion? We be many, Taishya Taishya Adams (she/her) Councilmember, Boulder City Council Resides on Ute, Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Shoshone Land Let’s stay connected: Follow me @adamsforboulder on Instagram Subscribe to my monthly newsletter Email request to access virtual meeting calendar From: Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 11:05 AM To: Brockett, Aaron <BrockettA@bouldercolorado.gov>; Adams, Taishya <adamst@bouldercolorado.gov>; Benjamin, Matthew <benjaminm@bouldercolorado.gov>; Folkerts, Lauren <folkertsl@bouldercolorado.gov>; Marquis, Tina <marquist@bouldercolorado.gov>; Schuchard, Ryan <schuchardr@bouldercolorado.gov>; Speer, Nicole <speern@bouldercolorado.gov>; Wallach, Mark <wallachm@bouldercolorado.gov>; Winer, Tara <winert@bouldercolorado.gov>; courts@bouldertennis.org Subject: Tennis in Boulder External Sender Notice This email was sent by an external sender. We are members of the tennis community. We are writing to plead for help and for you to listen to what’s really going on. Boulder prides itself on equity and access, but now we're becoming a country club town where only the privileged can participate. For years, Parks and Rec has said it is on top of the collapse of the supply of tennis courts. More than two dozen are going away. This will be the first winter in decades with no publicly-accessible winter tennis. Seniors and families are left out in the cold. Wheelchair tennis has no home. The tennis community in Boulder, filled with families, children, parents and hardworking taxpayers, is being disenfranchised. We have begged, pleaded and warned Parks and Rec. We've gotten lip service. Our efforts to reach Parks and Rec go back many years. More than 18 months ago, on Nov. 11, 2022, Parks and Rec Director Ali Rhodes told the city council that she was in talks with local partners to work on a solution. She said: “I have had multiple meetings in the last six months, probably, with folks at RMTC, with folks at Coburn Development, who are the developers at the Millennium, with folks at the Boulder Tennis Association and the newly formed BOCO Pickleball Club. We have told all of them we are interested in this conversation, that we would love to determine if and how we should partner on a racquet facility in Boulder.” That was 18 months ago. No action has taken place. AND that very month, the city got its wish to annex the tennis courts at CU South, eliminating another 12 courts at the end of this year. Added to the loss of 15 courts at RMTC, we are losing 27 courts in the span of a year. The answer of Parks and Rec? It says it will add a net of three new courts at East Boulder Rec Center in the next few years, with NO winter courts. There is talk of plans at Valmont Park more than 5 years from now. Talks, exploration, words, inaction. When community members ask for action, they get crocodile tears and condescension that we don't understand the process, or how long it takes. This is so unfair, even mean, given that Parks and Rec has known for years this was coming. It has already been a long time! Now, the crisis moment is here. There will be no publicly-available tennis next winter. CU Women have no home. Wheelchair tennis has no home. Seniors and families will not have the recreation for many, many years because Parks and Rec and the City of Boulder decided not to act and continues to study and delay. Are we to be the home where only the country club members participate in recreation? We ask this: demand action from Parks and Rec. Do not accept empty promises as we have now realized that’s what we’re being given. We no longer will accept these promises. You have our full attention. It’s time to stop stringing us along. Sincerely,