Authorize Tennis Court Maintenance and Add Pickleball Courts

The city has tennis courts at Rivers' Bend Park (4), and one each at Fox and Riverdale Park.  Loral I Armstrong Delaney Central Park also has a four court system that was constructed in the mid-1990's and last resurfaced in 2013. The following year pickleball stripping was added 'over' two of the four courts at Central, such that they could be used for either tennis or pickleball.

It may be noted that tennis courts typically need resurfacing at about a 5 to 8 year maintenance interval. For Central Park, this coming year would be the eighth year since this maintenance activity has occurred, and it is needed and should not deferred due to concern for safety and quality of play. (At the point the color coating begins to spall off, or loosen from the bituminous surface below, players can slip and slide when making abrupt moves or stops, creating a fall hazard. The color coating is at this stage as of 2020.)
 

As indicated, pickleball court striping (for 4 pickleball courts), was added to half of the tennis courts at Central in 2014, and has been very popular—more so than for tennis play. There is demonstrable need for more pickleball courts at the park, and therefore Staff is recommended increasing the number of courts to 6, by converting two of the four tennis courts to dedicated pickleball. The attached exhibit shows what that configuration would look like.

As an aside, the tennis courts at Fox and Riverdale Park are in need of maintenance at this time too, however this will be addressed separately from the courts at Central.

At the regular February Park & Recreation Commission, the Commission recommended proceeding with both the maintenance and the conversion of two tennis courts to six pickleball, and at the March 16th, 2021 Public Works Committee meeting, that committee recommended the same. 

As for the tennis court maintenance resurfacing ($28,028), the recommended funding source is the Capital Maintenance Fund, (formally known as ‘Park Maintenance Fund #810’) which has a present balance of approximately $889,000.

The new capital costs of adding pickleball posts, nets and separation fencing at $16,939 would be proposed to be funded by the Park Trust Fund, which has a present balance of approximately $5.018 million.

Staff recommends proceeding with the reconditioning of the courts at Central Park as soon as practicable, and adding 6 pickleball courts in lieu of two of the four tennis courts at the park at the same time as this maintenance activity occurs.

Motion to authorize the reconditioning of the courts at Central Park in the amount of $28,028 to be funded by the Capital Maintenance Fund, and adding 6 pickleball courts at the park for $16,939 with proceeds from the Park Trust Fund.