I am writing to express concerns over the news that the beloved basketball courts at the Police and Fire headquarters are slated to be removed and replaced with a storage facility. This is very disheartening to hear. My family members, as well as many others in our town, take full advantage of the courts both for recreational pleasure as well as for preseason work prior to their school basketball season. Like many, we have used these courts during the pandemic as a way to be outdoors, exercise, and to be socially appropriate in our outdoor interactions with others.

On any given evening between spring and fall, you can drive by the courts and see a vast number of children and/or adults utilizing them, regardless of sunlight, as these courts are well-lit. These courts are used to provide organized sporting opportunities for both the youth of the Guilford Basketball League, as well as the high school students in the Guilford Hoop Group. In all, these courts provide a safe place for people to gather and play together. Besides them being safe, they are centrally located with easy access. It is my understanding that a sidewalk is slated to be constructed, connecting Adams Middle School to the headquarters.

To dismantle these highly utilized and much-needed courts in order to provide storage would be an irresponsible way to spend taxpayer dollars. Surely there is room on this vast property to build this unit that is requested.

I ask that the Board of Selectmen reconsider this decision and find an alternate solution that will satisfy the police department, fire department, and the taxpaying families of the Town of Guilford.

Jaime Plancon

Guilford