Advocate - chapelhilltennis.org

06Aug 2022 by jerrye316

Chapel Hill Has A Parks Problem

Advocate, Court Maintenance, Public Tennis Courts, Youth Tennis

From a News and Observer opinion post by town council member Adam Searing, the following was written: "Chapel Hill has a parks problem. Community parks commission chair Tyler Steelman noted recently that, people are talking about having to leave town to engage in parks and recreation, and go to surrounding areas to just participate in the types of programs they would like to see." Regarding keeping up with parks, Adam ends with "We don’t have to be a leader, but it would be nice not to be last in the pack" Public tennis courts which serve the local Chapel Hill community are in shambles And now Parks & Rec is considering converting tennis courts to other sports. Let's support the town citizens by preserving, maintaining and upgrading our public parks.…

27Mar 2022 by jerrye316

Win Win – Not All Decisions Need Be Zero Sum

Advocate, Public Tennis Courts

It seems like many decisions by P&R and the commission involving tennis are frequently based upon someone winning and someone losing. Zero sum implies if someone gains, then someone else has to lose. Advocates from other sports are being encourage to secretly monitor and report usage numbers to P&R. For what purpose? We hope this data is just being gathered for planning on future facilities. But the concern is that this data will be used for decision making, to reduce current facilities and opportunities for those with fewer users. In this case, if one group has more users, they relentlessly seek solutions to "inherit" facilities from others. This even includes facilities that have been historically preserved for local and family and walk up residents. Facilities which serve the "community". Who…

22Feb 2022 by jerrye316

Grateful But Time to Budget For More Tennis Courts

Advocate, Court Maintenance, Public Tennis Courts

Presentation at Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission Meeting 2-15-2022Speaker/Presenter: D.C. Willis (CH Town Resident) I would like to thank Phil Fleischmann and the Parks and Rec Department, as well as the Parks, Greenways, and Rec Commission for taking seriously the concerns of the public tennis-playing community about the terrible condition and number of our public tennis courts. Over the past many months, Parks and Rec has given their time for regular meetings with us, which we appreciate. At Ephesus Park, we’re grateful for benches, court numbers, a squeegee if nobody take it, patching of some of the many cracks, trimming of tree branches, and repair of lighting. We look forward to a backboard we’ve been missing since 2013, the promised temporary resurfacing of the courts we have left there, and…

18Feb 2022 by jerrye316

Champions – Chapel Hill High School Tennis Teams

Advocate, Public Tennis Courts, Youth Tennis

Did you know? Chapel Hill High Schools Tennis Teams have been NC State Team Champions for 18+ times. Last year 2021, the Girls East Chapel Hill High School Team went undefeated, losing only in the state championship finals. The JV team, which uses the Cedar Falls courts, went 7-2 in matches under the coaching of Elizabeth Heetderks. Elizabeth has also been an advocate for maintaining and improving our courts at Cedar Falls for which we are thankful. Tennis is alive in Chapel Hill! Let's support tennis athletes of all ages by providing public tennis facilities to provide the opportunity to become school tennis champions, no matter your economic status. Many of these athletes started and developed with lessons, practices, and matches on CH public tennis courts. Congrats to all our…

27Aug 2021 by jerrye316

Viewpoint: Advocating For Safe and Viable Tennis Courts And CH Town’s Failure to Respond

Advocate, Public Tennis Courts

I have advocated, fought, and met with town staff and many tennis players for over two decades in an effort to make the Ephesus Tennis courts and the Phillips Tennis Courts safe and viable for play, getting re-done when cracks, sponginess, holes, peeling, excessive water retention and other problems have reduced the playability of the courtsto nearly zero. We have tried to have regular maintenance done on the courts after each of the re-do's, but the Town never seems to have the time, person power, or funding to do it. In recent years the Town has responded to the loudest noises from citizens, and without formal organization, tennis has lost out (and lost courts!) to another newer more vocal sport. The Town has failed to follow-up with contractors who have…

25Aug 2021 by jerrye316

Viewpoint: Junior Tennis Courts

Advocate, Public Tennis Courts

Our family has experience with junior courts (our kids played matches on them in various tennis programs). Based on our experience, I don’t believe adult tennis courts need to be removed to make space for junior courts. Junior lines overlapped with adult ones aren’t a big deal for either the kids, or adults who play using the ‘regular’ ones. Retaining adult courts will provide flexibility for both adults and juniors to play in the same facility. Contributor: Resident of CH Viewpoints are opinions expressed by the contributor.

24Aug 2021 by jerrye316

Viewpoint: Concerned About CH Public Tennis Court Conditions

Advocate, Public Tennis Courts

I'm very concerned about the public tennis courts in Chapel Hill. Not only keeping them as tennis courts, but the maintenance and regular upkeep of them.Each year, more and more decline has happened. As a frequent user, it is sad to see. I hope that Park & Rec personnel will hear our voice! The tennis community is alive and thriving! Contributor: SB (Chapel Hill Resident) Viewpoints are opinions expressed by the contributor.