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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-27-23 Public Comment - M. Kresge - New Volleyball Court’s at Bozeman PondFrom:Meredith Kresge To:Agenda Subject:New Volleyball Court’s at Bozeman Pond Date:Tuesday, June 27, 2023 11:28:33 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. Dear Bozeman City Commission, Please strongly consider approving the Parks Division's 2024 Cash-in-lieu of Parkland budget proposal which includes the funding for Bozeman Pond Park's new volleyball courts. I am a coach and parent with Big Sky Volleyball Club, and I continue to play on a competitivelevel in beach volleyball. I have loved the sport since I was 13 and that love has been passed down to my three young daughters who play both indoor and beach volleyball. Growing up, beach volleyball was almost nonexistent and only avaliable at specific locationsaround the US. I did not start playing sand volleyball until I moved here to Bozeman MT as a college student. I know that there has been a ton of work involved to make the courts at GlenLake Park better and better, but as this town grows more, like anything else, there needs to be more investments made to outdoor facilities. As a Mom I constantly struggle with getting mykids OFF their devices and going outside… especially in the summer. Volleyball has been the activity to get them outside! There have been more times than I can count that we (myself andmy three young daughters) have been bullied, kicked off, and downright subjected to rude and crude behavior from people at Glen Lake Park. It is also an atmosphere I don’t like subjectingmy kids to. We have not been there in years, outside of my children participating in the Big Sky Beach Volleyball club which starts at 7 am twice a week. Even in the early morninghours the head coach has to constantly be vigilant of the current surroundings and make sure that all 40+ kids are safe. If there were more locations for them to practice, he could spendthat extra effort focused on our kids improvement in the sport. These extra courts would be an absolute GODSEND for our youth programs and set our athletes up for future successes asthey look to the future of participating in college Beach Volleyball programs, which are now all over the US. The city would be investing a nurturing a brand new segment of the youth inour community that could have a life long, positive impact. According to the AVCA (America Volleyball Coaches Association) website, beach volleyball is the fastest growing NCAA sport over the last five years. In addition to that the NCAAreported that the number of female beach players at the college level went from 868 in 2016 to 1,485 in 2021. Those are huge growth numbers and that is just in the FEMALE category!Bozeman has BOTH boys and girls playing!! You no longer have to live in a city that is “known” to have beach volleyball… it is happening HERE, in our beautiful town of Bozemanand our kids NEED the ability to have a facility if they are going to be able to keep up and thrive as a competitive athlete! Please invest in the future of our youth!!! Thank you for your consideration, Meredith Kresge Big Sky Volleyball CoachMeredithkresge@gmail.com 406-579-4909-- Sincerely, photo Meredith KresgeRealtor Keller Williams Montana Realty 406.579.4909 meredith@meredithkresge.com kwmontana.com/