Fighting for Diversity and Inclusion in Baltimore County Sports

we should be able to have the capacity to have the badminton team. They are a great asset to the community.

I take coaching classes at Lock Raven and I am very upset to find out that we are being moved. I have played all sorts of sports but like badminton the most and this is the only place where I am able to participate in this sport. The demand for badminton is growing so fast but we don't have many places we can play but all other sports have multiple locations to play. It does not seem fair to me. A high school gym is not enough room considering more and more kids are joining. This is an olympic sport. I plan on playing on my high school badminton team. Please don't take Lock Raven away from me and my friends.

Support diversity

It’s important to inves in diversity and youth.

I strongly urge you to not relocate the badminton club due to its adverse effects. The current location supports coaching, adult leagues and recreational play concurrently that needs to remain to foster the positive atmosphere that this club has created over many years at the current location. Moving to the high school would limit the coaching participation that is the foundation of the league. There has already been increasing participation of new kids entering the program that the new location would not be able to accomodate. It is due to my concern for the league to survive that I strongly feel it should remain in its current location.

The Loch Raven Badminton Club has been using the facility at North East Regional Recreational Center continuously since 2011. Throughout the years, all the courts at NERCC have been used to their fullest extend, serving players at all ages and playing levels. Even on day one, I remember that there were more than 50 players rotating onto the courts, and our club has grown rapidly since. The Council's proposed relocation of the playing venue for Loch Raven Badminton club to Loch Raven High School should be stopped, because of the lack of equity afforded to us; the proposed site would provide space to accommodate only half the number of courts and at reduced playing times to our members, currently at 200 plus. In addition, the wooden floor at Loch Raven High School presents a safety hazard to our large number of senior and elementary-school members. Badminton plays frequently require abrupt changes in the direction of a player's footwork, which cannot be carried out safely on slippery wooden floors, such as the basketball courts at Loch Raven High School.

The best club at the NERRC

This space should be kept for the badminton club because there are more than 200 members current. No other place can hold so many people.

Badminton is underrepresented

I have played badminton in this facility (NERRP) for a few years. In a regular night, we would set up 12-14 courts to play. Lock Raven HS does not have enough courts to accommodate as many players as we have at our club. From decision making process point of viewing, this appeared to be an arbitrary decision by some without consulted Badminton team about their need. I used to attend Catonsville Rec & and Parks (part of the Baltimore County) routine meetings where each of the sports team's representative would present their requirement in terms of time and facility size, then board and staff members would discuss the situation with those representatives and ensure a fair and open process. We have not seen such open and fair facility allocation process from this region (NERRP) at this time. I am strongly urgent all parties get together have an open discussion and ensure that county facility and resource allocation is fair and open. Thanks.

I support this petition.

The badminton club has been an excellent experience for my years in Baltimore. Please keep it for sake of diversity and community development!

Please keep the badminton courts. Badminton is as important as other sports.

When we started to use this facility years ago, the tennis people “kindly” gave us all the time slots which they didn’t want. Now, they wanted to take it back. Who made the decision to favorite them all the time. This is a public facility and supposed to be used fairly by all the tax payers. I am sure county will give us some excuses and I have no doubt that those excuses are favor to their favorite people.... I will keep this question to the senator later.

“If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.” ― Gordon A. Eadie

same world, same rule. just need to be treated fairly.

The first time I came to this club was after playing school badminton at ridgely middle school. We had a total of 6 courts. I was amazed at the size and the amount of good players that go to this club. Ever since my first day in December, I have played at this club. Now it’s been 2 years (and some) and I still play here. This club is one of the largest in our area, and for this reason must be protected. Loch ravens facilities simply are NOT enough for our club to continue the way it has for the 2 years I have been here. We have taken care of mat problems, listened to every complaint, all while paying rent (which tennis doesn’t have to pay). For us to be kicked out of this facility for the tennis club of maybe 20 people is immoral, unethical, and outright wrong.

We need to keep the badminton team in the original place.

We need this GYM open for Badminton community.

I totally support this petition.