[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,73,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},"mediaId",6608546,"mediaKeyId","2939300-c26a49e1c6a491285c75196aae495810","parentId",2939300,"title","Votes at a glance: Commission approves Feb. 12 minutes","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",6271000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939300-c26a49e1c6a491285c75196aae495810&start=6271&end=6271","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939300-c26a49e1c6a491285c75196aae495810/thumbnail_6271000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6608546/Sunnyvale/Santa-Clara-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-Commission-approves-Feb-12-minutes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608546-9796ccab0a7242d347b23f1b8db253f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199770&Signature=fHdDixvKQMtPzrDpGQC6gvoaxvDXMjfJoPVqd6fn5INF0m~w1wck9-Yfag2W8z1x1rt2LTzPYWcaLF3cnfj7yunwhI0OfLCBieBOwQoKeRYM4nnKb1~yYlsyHqqjmpdP5oN-8ZzWkBIrxpK10pXLWrSsD5CcbXlqs44w4KKVRqdC~fJgpr3gzNWW25c1KKsWRRx2y~QyUewmPxAgS0yVWFoC2K1O-MydzhELnd6xe0a6kyohTb-euRNYdHD6Cu9q8WQ2RgDbRfhu3QU9Z6pCQpnyxa7z3diinvDkvZBZDXvB9bBNyhBk1IYp9WWfumyAdVKoKr2B1nGyryC2uuRHdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-10T04:20:13.443Z","article","The Parks and Recreation Commission voted to approve the minutes from its Feb. 12 meeting. The motion carried unanimously among the four commissioners present; one commissioner was recorded as excused. No further actions or substantive amendments to the minutes were recorded.

Vote tally: Yes — 4; Excused — 1. No votes, abstentions and recusals were not recorded.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks and Recreations Commission Meeting - April 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Parks and Recreation Commission approved its Feb. 12 meeting minutes by unanimous vote of members present; one commissioner was recorded as excused.","taxTitle","Sunnyvale , Santa Clara County, California","taxId",2858,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":74,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":75,"_41":76,"_43":77,"_45":78,"_46":79,"_48":80,"_50":81,"_52":82,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6608552,"Pickleball study prompts packed public comment; players push for quick tennis-to-pickleball conversions, neighbors raise noise concerns",1005,2212000,3217000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939300-c26a49e1c6a491285c75196aae495810&start=2212&end=3217","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939300-c26a49e1c6a491285c75196aae495810/thumbnail_2212000.jpg","/articles/6608552/Sunnyvale/Santa-Clara-County/California/Pickleball-study-prompts-packed-public-comment-players-push-for-quick-tennis-to-pickleball-conversions-neighbors-raise-noise-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608552-d0ee6db019d4c1bca591b289f8ffdf08/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199770&Signature=Hn5s~yOszVhUHprbcx3mxfmzM8lbIBJAKK-SkhTevDYCY3d-vJoavqE-ZB9A41Smd~0Dwiz8nAHMXp7VvxBXgJMxhPHCEDteTQ1MZf6M5XpoLKLGHIEZlrsfDmYZkDGtqnYuE1cyJfInRaS7QcFkDEynsdQ~sAnVly-s-2nhXZJaa0EzzxD1WHC7q4Mw~wE5cS5ZJX77YFdQ7cIf2amNtHsZDaHfQ5M9YoaBlW1SgchBlT31ypWYMFW4~bKh48SNHZEaCXtY~PSXTaXHcDVVsT63K2Be59fWGqv~KrcVFpXk3gvLMxBSyuSMrlOwoyO0Zq6As5GeFnzvaqxGrbSCqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks and Recreation Commission on April 15 heard an update on pickleball offerings, a summary of an outdoor sports assessment and an extended public-comment period in which players urged faster, low-cost conversions of tennis courts to free, drop-in pickleball facilities.

Tracy Gott, recreation services manager, summarized the city’s current pickleball assets: an indoor program, a 12-court outdoor site at Lifetime Activity Center (reservable and fee-based), and limited weekend and daytime indoor play at the Recreation Center. She said Verdi (the city’s consultant on the outdoor sports assessment) recommended several actions: add dedicated pickleball courts at De Anza and Ensignal Park, add tennis courts at Las Palmas and Ponderosa (as tennis recommendations), and add pickleball overlays on existing basketball courts at Ortega and Washington. Gott said the study focused on existing city park sites, that staff and the consultant are finalizing the report, and that the assessment will return to City Council after additional outreach.

Public commenters urged a quicker timeline and cheaper options. Emily (Amelia) Danner, speaking on behalf of local players, said more than 500 local players signed a petition (later described in testimony as 565 signatures) and recommended converting two tennis courts into multiple pickleball courts, an approach neighboring cities have used. Constance Chen and other speakers recommended Sarah Park as a candidate for conversion and said conversions can be completed in under a year and at modest cost: striping and basic nets for roughly $15,000, and full resurfacing up to $100,000 if chosen.

Multiple residents and players described how pick-up, drop-in play is central to the sport’s accessibility and community benefits. Andy Scholl, Nate/Grama Maha and others described the social, intergenerational nature of pick-up play and urged free, accessible courts rather than fee-based, reserved-only facilities.

Commissioners and staff discussed operational details. Commissioner Bremel recalled the commission’s prior unanimous additions to the outdoor assessment — specifically support for Las Palmas for additional courts and a request not to overlay pickleball onto basketball courts without further study — and several commissioners suggested reusing underutilized city property, parking lots, or separating reserved and drop-in hours.

Staff described next steps: finalize the Verdi report, continue targeted outreach to park communities (Gott noted Las Palmas will have public outreach on the park renovation), and present recommendations to the City Council. Staff said some improvements recommended by the assessment could be several years out if tied to major park renovation schedules, but that simpler actions such as striping tennis courts for pickleball could be implemented more quickly if Council and the community support them.

Not all speakers supported immediate conversions. Henry Song, a resident, cautioned about noise and proximity to housing, noting industry guidance and arguing that some recommended locations (he cited Sarah Park) are closer to homes than widely recommended minimum distances for pickleball noise mitigation. Song argued that courts should not be placed where they would displace casual tennis players or harm neighbors’ quiet enjoyment.

The commission did not adopt a policy or take formal action on the pickleball recommendations at this meeting; staff said they would return with the final outdoor sports assessment and continue outreach tied to park renovation timelines. Commissioners and many public speakers urged staff and council to consider pilot projects or faster conversions (striping existing tennis courts) to provide more free, drop-in outdoor pickleball courts sooner than the multi-year renovation schedules would allow.","Commissioners received an outdoor sports assessment update recommending new pickleball courts and overlays; a large group of public speakers urged faster, low-cost conversions of existing tennis courts, while at least one resident raised proximity and noise concerns.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_46":91,"_48":92,"_50":93,"_52":94,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":95,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":96,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6608556,"Sunnyvale staff report rising demand for fields and rentals; commissioners ask about subsidies and peak-time use",679,196000,875000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939300-c26a49e1c6a491285c75196aae495810&start=196&end=875","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939300-c26a49e1c6a491285c75196aae495810/thumbnail_196000.jpg","/articles/6608556/Sunnyvale/Santa-Clara-County/California/Sunnyvale-staff-report-rising-demand-for-fields-and-rentals-commissioners-ask-about-subsidies-and-peak-time-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6608556-f12331fdf07ae028798c2e80fa46ca67/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199770&Signature=UvhX35gFChw3jhr7ekYhVGizYfvuYtcr3OEvbZ9~N1KVrvLWj87cPDOtO86uDloxVLVuumkNuSUR7hqs7ZbpsFnA9WuJQyuYzN4o-421XUmNv7bZmiMSy3AmmpsnwoUP22IpnqrT~4rdTlyt6Z6TVEl5A7ZftAle4yKf7mU~YjE44Qq8M55mzGrs~xsydlNIrwzvT3T2BUjIC~2maR1ATODTiWwi~F06sY9rgQyzhD3Naoy1~zOzWa5EQNaHfr34qnJCivHBlIqqyMlEVN9t25wzOEZmNpN2c-49oNftsc~mSK6dzA7-WeZUerGw9nLQP1j0fnytdj10U28CUGUNoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tracy Gott, recreation services manager for Sunnyvale’s Sports, Aquatics and Facilities unit, told the Parks and Recreation Commission on April 15 that use of the city’s park buildings, picnic sites, gyms and athletic fields increased in 2024, with thousands of reservations and tens of thousands of hours of use.

Gott said the city operates 12 park buildings, 10 of which are available for public rental, and that in 2024 the department recorded “over 3,000 reservations and over 16,000 hours of use,” split among public nonprofit groups, private rentals and city programs. She told commissioners the department also manages 40 reservable picnic areas across 14 parks and 11 lighted athletic fields, and that field reservations totaled more than 7,400 last year.

The presentation prompted commissioners to press staff for clearer financial and access data. Commissioner Mason asked whether the city offers subsidies or lower rental costs for residents who cannot afford fees for birthday parties or other private events; Gott said the city’s current scholarship program focuses on youth under 18 and that there is not a general residency subsidy in place, but she offered to “take that back and look at it.”

Veronica Torres, a parks and recreation staff member who answered several rate questions during the discussion, described the city’s three-tiered field rates and lighting fees: turf at Fair Oaks is charged at $45 per hour for residents and $90 for nonresidents, lighting is $35 per hour, and grass fields are $28 per hour for residents and $43 for nonresidents.

Commissioners also asked staff to provide missing financial context. Chair Kesting and others requested the share of city revenue that comes from park rentals and the relative cost of maintaining park assets; Gott said the department tracks park revenue but must calculate what portion it is of overall city revenue and the full maintenance costs and that staff would follow up with those figures. Gott said staff would also run a refined report showing peak-use times for lighted and non-lighted fields to help analyze demand for additional lighting.

Commissioner Geary queried low utilization rates for specific park buildings and whether condition or program mix explained the difference; Gott said building use varies by neighborhood programming and building size and that she could include photos and additional context in future reports.

The presentation included additional usage numbers that staff said they corrected for prior reporting errors: Baylands recorded about 1,200 reservations and about 31% of reservable areas were used in 2024, the Senior Center had thousands of reservations (4,966) largely tied to daytime senior programs, and the community theater was reserved about 90% of available time. Gott said staff had re-run reports for calendar-year comparisons covering the past three years and replaced some figures previously reported to the commission.

Staff and commissioners agreed to follow up with clearer, itemized figures on: (1) park rental revenue as a share of relevant departmental and city budgets, (2) maintenance costs tied to park upkeep, and (3) peak-time use and a breakdown of lighted vs. non-lighted field hours so the commission can assess whether adding lights or converting surfaces would address demand.

Gott closed by saying the department would provide the requested follow-up reports and that staff try to accommodate reservation requests for leagues and groups whenever scheduling allows.

The commission did not take formal action on the field-and-facility report; the item was presented for study and discussion and staff said it would return with follow-up data and reports.","Parks staff told the Parks and Recreation Commission that reservations and hours of use for Sunnyvale park buildings, fields and picnic sites have increased. Commissioners pressed staff for data on revenue, maintenance costs and peak-time demand and asked whether lower-cost options exist for residents.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Commission approves Feb. 12 minutes

Pickleball study prompts packed public comment; players push for quick tennis-to-pickleball conversions, neighbors raise noise concerns

Sunnyvale staff report rising demand for fields and rentals; commissioners ask about subsidies and peak-time use