Urban Bocce Dreams

Have you ever thought it’d be way cool to have a real oyster shell bocce court in your back yard?  No?  well, I have.  While I may technically be able to build an 8’ x 60’ bocce court in my narrow city lot backyard, it isn’t really practical for a lot of reasons.  Today Jamie sent me this story from Slate about Alex Heard’s backyard bocce court.

Was it worth it? Yes. The bocce court unifies my yard, it’s great for socializing, and it makes me feel better instantly anytime I’m depressed. It’s like a Japanese rock garden with colored balls. Since finishing the great crusade, I’ve had several groups give the court a whirl. At first they’re a little confused: What’s all this? But before long the transformation occurs. They play a few games; and the combination of the beautiful balls, the soothing clay, the nifty contrails your rolls leave behind, and the game’s inherent pleasures suck them in.

Dude, I’m into it.  Who wants to volunteer a little piece of backyard for Exit133?  Or, even better, does anybody (UWT or others) have a piece of undeveloped land in downtown Tacoma that isn’t going to be developed for a few years?  You know… that master plan with twelve phases, but you already own the land.  I like the idea of a formal bocce court in an urban setting.  I’d even start playing with consistent rules.  Are we too late to get a bocce court into one of the many Metro Parks plans that have been floating around the city lately?  Where oh where will my bocce dreams land? 

Link to slate (highly recommended)

Link to boccemon.com – a Washington State company that installs bocce courts.

Previously on Exit133