The undersigned residents of Cumberland County and/or Crossville request that the government and/or park officials allow pickleball to be played on the courts at Centennial Park effective May 1st or earlier.

In the executive order issued by Governor Lee, there was allowance made for sports like pickleball and tennis to be played. See text below:

d. Engaging in outdoor activity, provided that persons the Health Guidelines to the greatest extent practicable, including, but not limited to, driving or riding in a vehicle, walking, hiking, running, biking, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, golf, tennis, or other sports or recreational activities that can be performed while maintaining the aforementioned precautions or utilizing public parks and outdoor recreation areas; ….

We can safely play pickleball while maintaining social distancing guidelines by implementing these procedures.

1) Social Distancing

a-The dimensions of a pickleball court are 20 X 44 which allows 880 sqaure feet to be used for only 4 players, or 220 sq feet for each person. This allows for adequate space for social distancing.

b- To further enhance social distancing and follow the government guidelines of a maximum number of 10 people, we would support the temporary closing of half the pickleball courts at Centennial Park for a short period of time. This would allow for 2 courts on each side and would only allow a maximum of 8 players playing on each side.

c- Players will not congregate under the covered pavilion before or after games.

d- All players will wash their hands before and after each game. The game balls will also be sanitized before each game.

e. Each person using the courts, will use no more than 2 courts at one time this limiting the number of players to 8, which is under the recommended social distancing guidelines of no more than 10 people.

2) Any person showing symptoms of a flu like illness will not be permitted to play.