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Residents urge more pickleball access and senior services during public forum
Summary
At the April 8 Washington City Council public forum, residents asked for an additional indoor pickleball court and summer access at the community center, safer bike routes and helmet education, and expanded senior programming. City staff will follow up and city manager Jeremy Red will relay details to relevant departments.
Resident Bonnie Caldwell told the council pickleball participation at the community center has surged and asked the city to add one more indoor court and a portable net so the facility would offer three courts instead of two, saying players often wait while adjacent gym space sits empty. “We would gladly pay the cost of this,” Caldwell said, noting the group’s age range skews older and indoor play is important for them.
Caldwell also said the group is routinely blocked from using the gym during school vacations and summers, and asked for limited summer or holiday access for older players who prefer indoor play. She renewed an earlier proposal to add four outdoor pickleball courts near the community center and suggested the city consider RAP (recreational, arts and parks) tax funds to help finance them.
Mayor Staley and City Manager Jeremy Red acknowledged the requests and said staff will look into availability, phasing and funding. Red told the council he would coordinate follow-up with community center management and bring the Washington County RAP-tax conversation back to the council.
During the same public forum, Kaylynn Peterson urged parents to require helmets and reflective vests for children on bikes and scooters and asked the city to repaint a sidewalk at a chapel parking lot where drivers are moving quickly. Peterson also asked about the availability of senior-only housing and local senior gathering spaces; the mayor and manager said some senior services fall under county jurisdiction and pledged to pass concerns to the county and look for local options.
The mayor asked the city manager to take notes and connect residents with appropriate staff; the council did not take action at the meeting but committed to follow-up and to report back.
