Public Squash Project Should Be Completely Public by Ted Gross July 12, 2016 -
It is my understanding that the 'public court' set to open this month
in New York's Hamilton Fish Park will not be completely public, since
the reported intent of the organizers is to partner with the NYC Parks and Rec
department and charge $100 per year per person.
This would enable permit-holders to book court time, similar to the NYC Parks and Rec tennis court system.
I was told by the Public Squash Foundation that there would be time allotted
every day for the general public to use the court with no fee or
reservation necessary, but it was not clear when or for how many hours
a day this would be the case.
Charging anyone to play on this court is a bad idea.
'Public' should mean just that, and the court should be used
exclusively on a walk-on basis, with waiting players calling 'Next',
the same way it works in pick-up basketball on public playgrounds.
'Grow The Game' is an awful expression - but that's how you grow the game.
Separately, UK Racketball (sometimes called Large Ball Squash or Short
Court Racquetball) should be introduced from the start at Hamilton Fish
Park.
Racquetball racquets, large-ball squash balls and eyeguards should be donated.
New York-area squash pros who are familiar with UK Racketball should
attend the grand opening and give exhibitions and demonstrations in the
sport.
Neighborhood kids likely won't last long trying out squash on a public
court with little or no guidance, but set them up with Short Court
Racquetball equipment and the corresponding bouncier ball and they'll
be going all day, and there is a good chance many of them will
eventually gravitate to regular small-ball squash.
The timing for introducing UK Racketball-Large Ball Squash-Short Court
Racquetball is excellent, since the World Squash Federation is set to
announce an official name for the sport, along with an official logo.
No better place for the game to be introduced in the States than on a 100 percent public court.
