Many of you have been wondering what has happened to Saturday/Sunday table tennis at Green Lake Community Center. Last September, GLCC coordinator, Chris Easterday, let us know that weekend table tennis could not continue as it has for the last 10 years with the city’s building monitor handling the $5 cash payments. Apparently, this has always violated city policy that requires at least two employees to be working when cash is handled. We have been asked to return to a rental organization, as we were 10 years ago, however the city has stated that they need us to pay the standard rental rate of $30/hour for an employee, and $48/hour for the gym totaling $78/hour. This is roughly triple the amount we have been bringing in on weekends through punch cards and cash payments. We would have to charge $15/hour if we were to keep the same participation level. This is not tenable. Though some of us could pay $15 for an evening of table tennis, we would lose a significant proportion of our players. Also, we would be competing with “free” on Tuesdays and Friday evenings.
In June of 2021 we presented a proposal (below) under which table tennis could continue on weekends as a free, donation based program.
** 11/8/2022 Update — We have been approved for fiscal sponsorship by the Seattle Parks Foundation.
** 12/4/2022 Update — A meeting was held on 11/30/2022 between Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR), the Seattle Parks Foundation (SPF), and the GLTTC. SPR presented a possible framework under which we could start table tennis again on Saturday evenings. We are waiting for clarification from SPR on portions of the framework.
Draft Proposal for Saturday/Sunday Table Tennis at Green Lake Community Center
- The GLTTC (Green Lake Table Tennis Center) will pay for table tennis on Saturdays from 5 pm to 9 pm, and Sundays from 4 pm to 9 pm. We will pay the $30/hour cost of the recreation attendant during those hours and during the required time before and after. Table tennis will be free to the public just as it is during regular community center hours. We intend to bring in funds through player donations, grants, and corporate matching.
- As outlined above, the City will be providing the gym at no cost. In exchange, the GLTTC will perform the following.
- Provide table tennis for free to the public on weekends.
- Set up and break down tables, nets, barriers, and equipment before and after play times. This will happen both during regular center hours and on weekends.
- Purchase new tables and barriers (money already available from 2019 fundraiser).
- Maintain and repair tables and equipment as needed.
- Promote table tennis at GLCC and other SPR community centers through our website (glttc.org), our email distribution list, and social media.
- Provide free coaching to kids and adults.
- Continue our para program for persons with disabilities.
- Conduct special activities such as our unique drop-in kanban league and occasional tournaments.
- We will be available to help in other ways that the City might identify in the future.
- Table tennis will be suspended occasionally on some weekend days if the GLCC has a rental from another organization. This will eliminate any opportunity cost for the program. The City will notify the GLTTC in advance so we can adjust the upcoming rental amount and notify players.