How much parking could pickle people poach if pickle people could poach parking?

The local pickleball committee has requested permission to add another court to the parking lot due to high demand.

“Any given Sunday or sometimes Saturdays, there’s usually more people waiting than playing,” said committee member Melanie Osmack. The district has heard one community member complain they couldn’t access the history center over the weekend due to pickleball activities taking up parking.

The district will measure the parking lot to determine if additional space is available, with basketball players maintaining precedence over any court placed in the basketball area.

Recreational sized pickleball courts are 20' wide by 44' long. Ideally, there should be 10-12' between courts on the sides with 10’ on either end. Three courts side by side would be 90' wide by 64' long.

During well-attended events at the community center, attendees can park between the center and the library and on both sides of Gulf Road.

In other electrifying district news, the district’s EV charging station at the community center is expected to be installed by the end of September, though equipment shortages may cause delays.

“Everything is finally moving ahead after a year and a half talking about it,” commissioner Stephen Falk said. The project combines a $212,000 Puget Sound Energy grant (PSE) with a $185,000 Washington State Department of Commerce grant to fund the $330,000 installation. The district initially declined the commerce grant in January 2024 due to required electrical upgrades, but the PSE grant made the project viable.

Installation will move parking spaces a few feet south to accommodate equipment. The charging station will occupy the four northernmost parking spaces.

Also during their September 8 meeting, the district appointed a new commissioner to fill Position 5, vacated when Michael Cressy announced his resignation during the July regular monthly meeting. The position will be held for the next two years.

Two community members had expressed interest in the seat: Jen Kurcz and Bronwyn Glor. After brief introductions and an executive session, the commissioners selected Glor.

During her remarks, Glor highlighted her deep involvement in the community – she participates in the pickleball group, dippers, book club, garden club, works at the library, gardens at the Benson Road Garden, and delivers Meals on Wheels.

Glor outlined three priorities for her role as a commissioner: listening to community input on facilities and programs, investing tax dollars in visible improvements, and expanding community spaces for year-round use.

She expressed interest in developing Baker Field, saying, “That space could be so useful. Right now, I see a baseball field that doesn’t get used and a lot of space around that doesn’t get used.”

Glor is also running for Position 4 this November. If elected, Position 5 will become vacant again and require a new appointment in January.