As a lifelong city resident and current homeowner who basically lives next door to Ritz Park, it has been wonderful to see the popularity of pickleball take a once barely used park and transform it into a hub of activity.

For the last several years, it’s been surreal to see the incredible number of people using the park every day and night playing pickleball. The players have groups who just show up on certain days, at certain times, to play with their large group of friends. They also have “leagues,” organized by players with great success and turnout.

And the city’s Parks Department employees have done everything possible to enhance the player experience, job well done fellas.

Unfortunately, I learned of a sad turn of events.

Again, the YMCA has been granted permission, by city officials, to implement their own leagues a night or two a week. These leagues, however, will eliminate already thriving leagues, prioritize members of the YMCA over tax paying city residents who fund the park, putting them on a waiting list.

How does the YMCA, and more important, elected officials of the city of Butler justify such a thing?

Sadly, I can’t believe there are people living in the neighborhood of Ritz Park who can’t use the park the way they have been for years.

I hope this poor decision by city leadership can be reversed, and city residents can be better served by the elected officials that were voted into office by their fellow neighbors.

Travis T. Brown,

Butler