Seattle Press on Line - Roosevelt Neighbors Pitch Parks Department for Boules Court

U-District

Roosevelt Neighbors Pitch Parks Department for Boules Court

By Jeff Boone

Philip Thiel prepares to pitch the boule.

May 18, 2000 -- For 30-odd years Philip Thiel has looked from his kitchen window to the southwest corner of University Playfield and wondered if this pocket of grass near the children's play area might be put to some use. In his decades of rinsing dishes at the kitchen sink, the architect has examined the space, persuaded that its happiest possible fate rests in the construction of a Boules court.

"It is as if the space was designed on purpose for this use," remarked Thiel.

Thiel became acquainted with Boules in the course of several trips to France. According to Thiel, every city, town and village in France boasts a Boules court.

Boules, or petanque, is one of several outdoor games whose activity involves the competitive pitching of a heavy ball along the ground so as to come closer to a target than one's opponent. Examples are the English versions of lawn bowling, the Italian variety of Bocce, and the South Slav form of Balinaje.

The game is played by two teams of one to four players. The players use metal boules (small metal balls) and a wooden jack (a small ball no more than 1 1/8 inches). No team may play with more than 12 boules. The game is started with a coin toss; the winning team throws the jack between six and 10 yards away. The teams then compete to pitch their boules closest to the jack. When the two teams have no more boules, the points are counted. The winning team scores one point for each boule nearer the jack than any of their opponents.

Boules, said Thiel, is an attractive leisure activity because it requires no special strength or athletic skills, engaging people of all ages on an equal basis.
While the game is very simple to play, Thiel proposes to schedule training sessions once the Boules court is complete. The RNA and UDCC have arranged for the donation of several sets of boules by Playaboule, a supplier of boules equipment whose office is located on Harbor Island. The equipment will be made available on loan at the University Heights Center.
The Roosevelt Neighbors Alliance (RNA) and the University District Community Council (UDCC) are preparing to apply for a Small and Simple Matching Fund grant from the Department of Neighborhoods, with the cooperation of Seattle's Department of Parks and Recreation.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The Roosevelt Neighbors Alliance and the University District Community Council are soliciting contributions for this new community facility, in either cash or labor equivalents. Several week-end work parties will be scheduled in the autumn and those whose recreation is found in pick, shovel and wheelbarrow work are encouraged to attend. If you are interested in participating, or have any questions or comments, please call:

Philip Thiel, University District Community Council, (206) 633-2017

Nancy Bocek, Roosevelt Neighbors Alliance, (206) 632-7760

For information on equipment, see www.playaboule.com

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