Cranberry Township has pickle ball courts in one of our public parks, Graham. The original eight courts were built by mostly public donations and with the help of a newly created Cranberry Township Pickle Ball Association. The association expanded the number of courts to 19 and has assisted with some park improvements.

The association is headed by a Cranberry supervisor who helped negotiate a lease with the township that gives his association control of the pickle ball venue in our public park. This same supervisor is also on the advisory board.

The only way a resident can reserve and use the courts is to pay to join this association and pay for hourly court time. The original courts were mostly built with public donations with the intention to be free play for residents.

The association pays the township $500,000 per year plus donations for use of the land. The township is in the black, so why can’t we have a few courts for free public play in prime time?

Why are nonresidents put ahead of our taxpayers? The association memberships are about 50% resident and 50% nonresident.

I feel this is all about the money not the residents. The average family of four may be priced out of their own public park.

When a board of supervisors fundamentally changes the process and procedures of a public park and a venue turns $500,000 profit for the township, I feel the residents get the short end of the stick.

Jim Charles, Cranberry Township