HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC 06-04-2026 Written CommunicationsPRC 06-04-2026
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From:Zoey Tran
To:City of Cupertino Parks and Recreation Commission
Subject:Public Comment: Protecting the Community Built Around Pickleball at Cupertino Memorial Park
Date:Thursday, June 4, 2026 12:10:17 PM
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Dear Mayor, Councilmembers, Parks and Recreation Commissioners, and City Staff,
I am unable to attend today’s meeting, but I wanted to submit my comments in writing.
My name is Zoey, and I’m a mom of two boys, ages 7 and 5. We moved here just a few
months ago, after several moves over the past three years. For my older son, Lucas, finding a
place where he feels safe, welcomed, and rooted has not been easy.
Cupertino Memorial Park’s pickleball community has become that place for us.
I have played at other pickleball parks, and what has formed at CMP is different from that.
This is a self-organizing, multi-generational community where kids, parents, seniors, working
adults, longtime residents, and new families all come together. People welcome beginners,
invite strangers to play, look out for one another, and create connections in a way that is very
rare.
For Lucas, this has been especially meaningful. This is one of the first places where I have
watched him settle in, build confidence, connect with others, and make friends. In a world that
can feel overwhelming for kids, this park has become a place where he feels safe, included,
and able to belong.
I understand the city is trying to balance real needs, and I respect that nearby neighbors’
concerns matter. If sound is the core issue, then I hope the city will address sound directly
before reducing access.
Reducing hours or limiting play may reduce opportunities for people to gather, but it does not
necessarily solve the sound problem. It may also unintentionally weaken a community that is
actively helping people feel less isolated, more connected, and more rooted in Cupertino.
This matters because communities like this are fragile. If access becomes limited, working
families like ours may not have the same opportunity to show up consistently. New families,
seniors, and residents looking for connection may never experience what we have been lucky
enough to find.
I have heard that loneliness is a significant concern in Cupertino. From my personal
experience, this pickleball community is one of the places actively helping to address that. It
gives people a circle of friends, a reason to move, a reason to gather, and a place to belong.
That is why I respectfully ask the city and the Parks and Recreation Commission to reconsider
any trial changes that reduce access before fully evaluating direct sound mitigation options.
Please consider sound barriers, acoustic panels, quiet equipment standards, and other practical
My ask is simple. Please treat what has formed at CMP as a community asset rather than just a
nuisance. Please bring players, neighbors, city staff, and the Parks and Recreation Commission
into a structured conversation before changes move forward.
What has been built here matters to many people, including my family. I hope we can protect
it while still being thoughtful and respectful of everyone involved.
Respectfully,
Zoey