Closing the Letter: Table Tennis at Riverside Park

Tables for Riverside Park

1Dear Mr. Haddad,
My name is Rosa Delgado, and I am in fourth grade at Brookside Elementary. Every afternoon, I walk through Riverside Park on my way home. The park has a playground for little kids and a basketball court for teenagers, but there is not much for anyone else to do. I think Riverside Park should add two outdoor table tennis tables. Tables would give people of all ages a game to share, help neighbors get to know each other, and get more people moving.

2First, table tennis is a game that almost anyone can play. You do not need to be tall or strong to tap a small, light ball over a low net. My grandfather is seventy-one, and he plays with me every Sunday on the old table in his garage. My cousin Leo is only six, but he learned to hit the ball back in one afternoon. At the park, a grandparent and a grandchild could play on the same table. Very few games work this well for people of such different ages.

3Second, the tables would help neighbors get to know each other. Right now, most people hurry through the park without saying hello. A game of table tennis needs only two players, but others often wait for a turn and cheer while they watch. Last summer, I visited my aunt's town, which has two tables under a big oak tree in its park. In one hour, I played against three kids I had never met, and their parents sat on a bench chatting with my aunt.

4Third, table tennis gets people moving. Players step from side to side, reach for fast shots, and swing their arms. After a few games, my cheeks are pink and I am breathing hard, but I am having too much fun to notice. Many people in our neighborhood spend their afternoons indoors. Bright new tables would give them a reason to come outside. The tables could be made of concrete so they last through sun, rain, and snow.