To the Editor:

I have an alternate suggestion for Newtown pickleball courts.

The tennis court closest to the pickleball court at Treadwell Park could be converted into four pickleball courts. Four pickleball courts normally are spaced lengthwise into the space of one tennis court. Not counting the four high school tennis courts, this leaves the town with eight remaining tennis courts, three at Treadwell and five at Dickenson Park.

Tennis often is played doubles, which is four players, but sometimes singles, which is two players. Pickleball almost always is played doubles. This means one tennis court will accommodate up to four tennis players at once while four pickleball courts in the same space will accommodates up to sixteen pickleball players.

Should interest in pickleball fade, the court always can be reconverted to a tennis court. But if Newtown is like a lot of other locations, tennis courts are increasingly going empty as pickleball courts fill up.

I am certain there are tennis players who will object. As a sometimes tennis player, I sort of hate to lose a tennis court, but one tennis court for four pickleball courts is a trade I am willing to make.

Jim Wright

Tamarack Road, Newtown         April 25, 2019