Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-27-23 Public Comment - J. Martin - PARKS DIVISION'S 2024 CASH-IN-LIEU OF PARKLAND BUDGET PROPOSALFrom:Martin, Jamie (RIS-BZN) To:Agenda Subject:PARKS DIVISION"S 2024 CASH-IN-LIEU OF PARKLAND BUDGET PROPOSAL Date:Tuesday, June 27, 2023 10:33:40 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Hi Bozeman City Commissioners - My name is Jamie Martin. I'm an avid volleyball player, coach, and member of the Bozeman community. I'm asking for your support tonight for the approval of the 2024 Cash-In-Lieu of Parkland budget proposal that includes the funding for Bozeman Pond Park's new volleyball courts. The current state of the beach volleyball courts in Bozeman isn't enough to support the need of the town. The funding for the new courts will provide critical infrastructure to continue to support the growth of volleyball in Bozeman and create a safe environment for many more to play. It will also divert traffic away from an already too congested and sometimes unsafe Bozeman Beach. One of the main reasons to support volleyball within the community is how much support it will provide traditionally underserved populations, particularly those in the BIPOC community. If you ever spend your weekends at Bozeman Beach today, you'll see the demographic waiting to play and playing volleyball is often different from those on a ski trail, hiking trail, or playing pickleball. Investment in beach volleyball supports a wide array of demographics as more than a billion people worldwide participate globally and helps further the city’s mission to suppoer these groups. The town of Missoula has recently grown an outdoor park to 6 courts with wild success that just this last weekend brought 4 Professional Beach Volleyball players to the community to give clinics and continue to grow one of the world’s most popular sports. I’ve seen firsthand what investment in a sport can do for a community having lived in Sioux Falls, SD at a time when they made investments in volleyball infrastructure about 10 years ago. The current top United States beach volleyball team includes a player from Sioux Falls, SD – not a place known for beach volleyball. A vote in support of the proposal gives opportunity to underserved populations, helps continue to expand an already lively and diverse community, and supports critical training for our youth beach teams so that maybe one day the top player in the country can be from Bozeman, MT. Thanks for your support! Jamie Martin The information contained in this e-mail message is intended only for the personal andconfidential use of the recipient(s) named above. This message may be an attorney-client communication and/or work product and as such is privileged and confidential. If the reader ofthis message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited.If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail, and delete the original message.