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Council approves nonprofit park‑use agreement for Fredericksburg Racquet Center on Friendship Lane
Summary
The council approved a draft nonprofit park‑use agreement with the Fredericksburg Tennis Center Foundation to build and operate a public tennis and pickleball center on city land at Friendship Lane; the foundation said $5 million is secured toward a multiyear $16 million vision.
The City Council approved a draft nonprofit park‑use agreement enabling the Fredericksburg Tennis Center Foundation and its operator partner to develop a public racquet center and adjacent park on city‑owned land on Friendship Lane.
Julie Alvarez, who leads the community group, said the project would provide indoor and outdoor tennis and pickleball courts, a walking trail, playground and public restroom on the site the city bought years ago to preserve as parkland. The foundation said it has raised $5 million so far toward a longer‑range construction estimate of about $16 million, and aims to secure $10 million by year‑end to start phases of construction.
Under the agreement approved by council, the city would provide the land and pay for utility extensions and parking paving as part of future capital programs; the nonprofit would construct and operate the facility. The proposed operator, an Austin‑based nonprofit described in the presentation, would manage programs and run coaching and tournament operations. The nonprofit intends to offer scholarships, work‑for‑membership opportunities, daily drop‑in options and discounted community rates; walking trails and the playground would be open to the public without fees.
Council members who asked about access and local rates were told the foundation is designing a pricing and scholarship structure modeled on similar community facilities; staff said the agreement would track the format used for the city’s soccer complex. The draft agreement establishes a 30‑year nonprofit use arrangement with terms similar to previous public‑private park partnerships.
Council voted to approve the draft agreement and direct staff to finalize terms; staff said the site concept plan will proceed to Planning & Zoning for review in May. Proponents said the center would be available to public and private schools, provide youth programming and generate tournament tourism that could broaden midweek visitation to town.
