July 19, 2023—Whit, Hope all is well…I know you have an interest in the pickleball saga and thought you might want to see a copy of what I read to the Jacksonville City Council today.
John Jorgenson

My name is John Jorgenson I live @ 810 Bybee Drive in Jacksonville

I would like to address the comments in a letter that was read at last month’s council meeting.  In the letter a Central Point resident accused the pickleball players of bullying them off the Pheasant Meadows tennis court.

I was one of the first two people to arrive at the courts a little before 8 am on a Saturday.  The tennis ball machine and two people were already set up on the court.  We chatted with the 2 ladies and even helped return balls that left the court and helped reload the machine.

As the pickleballers arrived we gathered at the benches inside the court but there was never any attempt to bully the tennis players into leaving the court.  After about 30 minutes the tennis players left the court.  The  tennis players appeared to be guests of one of the neighboring families as they all gathered together after the tennis workout.

Some of the neighbors continue to paint us anti tennis zealots who create traffic and other problems and are only focused on themselves and the game of pickleball.

Let me tell you about the pickleballers.  The players’ average age is north of 65.  We have current and former special education teachers, former firefighters, police and other first responders and several Jacksonville business owners.  We have retired doctors, nurses’… even a member of the city council has been caught playing pickleball at Pheasant Meadows.

We also give back to our communities, our members volunteer for programs in Jacksonville and the greater Rogue Valley. We have Rotarians, Kiwanians, Booster Club board members, board members of the Community Center, volunteers with the city.  Our players donate time for meals on wheels, Casa, AARP, and many other local programs.  Pickleballers even served hot dogs at the mayor’s 4th of July picnic.

During a recent warm summer day, I drove by Doc Griffin Park and the place was packed with young children and their families.  Every swing, picknic table and parking spot was taken.  The children were laughing and screaming as they played in the water jets.

What if the neighbors complained about the noise and traffic?  Should we take down ½ the swings, ½ of the water jets and picnic tables.  How about no play on Sundays.   Reducing the number of courts is taking away ½ of the already limited number of courts in Jacksonville.  You would not do this to children and their families why would it be it okay to cut the pickleball players options in half and deny seniors the ability   to enjoy the parks in Jacksonville.

I encourage all council members and the mayor to come visit the courts and see for yourself what actually happens at Pheasant Meadows rather than act on accusations and characterizations of a few neighbors.

We need the court re-surfaced with 4 courts.