This is in response to a survey for feedback about pickleball courts. The question the city should be asking is: Does the community want pickleball courts in Lithia Park at all?
There are many reasons to stop this sport in Lithia Park. To name two, the lights ruin the night sky for others, and the biggest reason is the noise that the ball makes. Residents on streets east and west of the courts — for example, Granite Street or Ridge Road — are affected by this noise all day and part of the evening. The noise can even be heard while visiting the Japanese Garden.
Lithia Park is a place for peace and tranquility. People from all over the world come to Lithia Park to find solitude in the Japanese Garden, lie in the grass by the Rose Garden, walk along the paths to hear the natural sounds of Ashland Creek, listen to music at the band shell and take a stroll from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to congregate at the grassy area that hosts local artist booths on the weekends.
Lithia Park is not a sports center. Lithia Park is Ashland’s Heart, known for nature, culture, education, art and at times patriotic enthusiasm. Our historic Lithia Park should not be for sport.
Ashland has several sports centers through out the city: North Mountain Park, Hunter Park, Oak Knoll Golf Course and more. Hunter Park, for example, has old tennis courts that could be repurposed into pickleball courts. The park is well lit and has abundant parking.
Pickleball is the latest sport fad. Before this, these same courts were for tennis. Let’s consider turning the Lithia Park Courts into a sculpture garden, maybe a yoga gathering spot or an outdoor nature teaching center for elementary school children.
The park area could become a place for quiet in a world filled with noise. Let’s keep sports in areas already designated for sport. Let’s consider keeping Lithia Park a center for quiet gathering, artistic expression and meaningful reflection.
The next time someone visits the Japanese Garden they might only hear the brook, the breeze, the bees and their own breath. A visit to Lithia Park will then become a time to experience, learn, grow and remember the wonderful day they had in the Heart of Ashland — Ashland’s Heart.
Ron Rusnak
Ashland
