Your voice will make the difference!

Please send one short, personal email to City Council - see below for samples.

Our voice must be unified - "Please fund the full 25-court Uptown facility" 

Tone rules

• Be respectful, positive, and brief.
• Don't criticize staff, Council, or anyone by name, and don't use the "broken promise" framing.
• Thank the supporters Joanne Cogle and Glenn Davis in separate short notes.

Council web: https://columbusga.gov/council

To:  barnes.simi@columbusga.org, glenndavis@columbusga.org, bhuff@columbusga.org, tucker.toyia@columbusga.org, crabb.charmaine@columbusga.org, gallen@columbusga.org, cogle.joanne@columbusga.org, wgarrett@columbusga.org, cook.cathy@columbusga.org, chambers.travis@columbusga.org skiphenderson@columbusga.org

Choose a sample below:

SAMPLE 1:

EDIT/REMOVE brackets

Dear Mayor and Councilor [Simi Barnes, Glenn Davis, Bruce Huff, Toyia Tucker, Charmaine Crabb, Gary Allen, JoAnne Cogle, Walker Garrett, Cathy Cook, Travis Chambers]

My name is [NAME], and I live in [DISTRICT # / CITY]. [ONE LINE ABOUT YOU: e.g., I play pickleball three times a week and often drive out of town to find open courts.]

The Uptown pickleball facility will give Columbus a first-class place to play and a real draw for regional tournaments. The pickleball community has already raised $1.35 million and is donating the land, and Columbus State University's study projects $11.3 million in economic activity from construction and about $1.2 million every year after.

Please fund the full 25-court facility.

Thank you,

[NAME]

SAMPLE 2:

EDIT/REMOVE brackets

Dear Mayor and Councilor [Simi Barnes, Glenn Davis, Bruce Huff, Toyia Tucker, Charmaine Crabb, Gary Allen, JoAnne Cogle, Walker Garrett, Cathy Cook, Travis Chambers]

My name is [NAME], and I live in [DISTRICT # / CITY]. [ONE LINE ABOUT YOU: e.g., I've played pickleball in Columbus for four years, mostly on temporary courts in gyms.]

Our community of more than 500 players has no public dedicated courts to play. We've worked toward this facility for years and CPA has raised $1.35 million privately to help build it. Cutting courts would make it harder for Columbus to compete with Opelika and LaGrange for tournaments and the visitors they bring.

Please fund the full 25-court facility.

Thank you,

[NAME]

SAMPLE 3:

EDIT/REMOVE brackets

Dear Mayor and Councilor [Simi Barnes, Glenn Davis, Bruce Huff, Toyia Tucker, Charmaine Crabb, Gary Allen, JoAnne Cogle, Walker Garrett, Cathy Cook, Travis Chambers]

I'm [NAME] from [DISTRICT # / CITY]. [ONE LINE ABOUT YOU: e.g., My kids started playing pickleball this year, and it has become something our whole family does together.]

A facility in Uptown would give families like mine a safe, active place to play close to home. The four courts under the 2nd Avenue bridge were always part of the plan and have GDOT approval, and building them now, while the contractor is engaged and ready, costs less than coming back later.

Please fund the full 25-court facility.

Thank you,

[NAME]

• The community has invested. CPA has raised $1.35 million in private funds since 2023. About $945,000 bought and cleared the 1641 Third Avenue site, which CPA will donate to the City.
• It's an investment. Columbus State University's study projects $11.3 million in economic activity and 63 jobs during construction, and about $1.2 million a year afterward from operations and tournament visitors.
• The bridge courts were always part of the plan. The 4 courts under the 2nd Avenue bridge have GDOT approval. Building them now, while the contractor is on site, costs less than coming back later.
• Overruns are common. City staff told council that nearly every recent City project has come in over budget at this stage. Construction costs have risen sharply over the life of this project, and waiting will only raise them further.
• Building all 25 courts now, while the contractor is on site, is the most cost-effective path and gives Columbus a facility that can compete with Opelika and LaGrange for regional tournaments.