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Do they really care about us?

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David Burt, the Premier, at the launch with Bermuda Pickleball Association president Matt Dragonetti (Photograph by Ras Mykkal)

Dear Sir,

As an avid tennis player for a number of decades, I was in total shock over the weekend to discover that despite promises made by the Government that pickleball and tennis would successfully coexist, the public tennis practice wall at the historic WER Joell Tennis Stadium has been remodelled into all-pickleball courts.

The WER Joell Tennis Stadium practice wall has been a mainstay of tennis enthusiasts for as long as I can remember, myself having been born and raised in the central neighbourhood.

Construction has commenced at the WER Joell Tennis Stadium practice area to convert the court into four new pickleball courts (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

My daughter and I have shared many fond memories of bonding during our practice sessions on the historic wall while recounting the majestic history of the courageous battles of W.E.R. Joell, after whom the tennis stadium is named.

I am both ashamed and saddened that our leaders have seen fit to change the use of this village facility to accommodate a particular section of our community using the excuse of progress.

It leaves me to feel disappointedly that “they don’t really care about us”.

BARRIETT ST VINCENT DILL

Smith’s

Construction has commenced at the WER Joell Tennis Stadium practice area to convert the court into four new pickleball courts (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

Editor’s note: It has been clarified that access to the practice wall is available to the public when the courts are not booked for pickleball.

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Published March 06, 2024 at 7:59 am (Updated March 07, 2024 at 1:45 pm)

Do they really care about us?

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