Pickleball, batting cage and playground projects advance after donations and council discussion
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Summary
Parks staff outlined capital needs and a large private donation for the batting cage turf; council discussed using savings from the recent low parking-lot bid to finish landscaping around new pickleball courts and to reallocate a $50,000 line to complete immediate finishing work.
Centerville Parks Director described playground, pickleball and park projects at the April 10 budget retreat and reported a private donor’s gift that will cover artificial turf for the new batting cage.
Why it matters: Parks capital investments and private donations affect where money in the parks budget is spent and whether finishing work (irrigation and landscaping) around new features will be delayed or funded this year. Council discussed shifting a previously budgeted $50,000 (Randall property landscaping) to complete pickleball finishing while keeping longer‑term projects on next year’s list.
Capital projects and donations: Parks staff said the contractor’s low bid for a new parking lot came in roughly $100,000 less than the engineer’s estimate; staff proposed using a portion of that budgeted amount to add irrigation, grass and astroturf around the new pickleball courts to prevent mud tracking onto courts. The department requested roughly $20,000–$50,000 for irrigation and turf to finish the area; council and staff agreed to explore shifting funds that had been planned for a different property this year.
Batting cage donation: Parks staff said a local contractor, Commercial Floor Source (owner Will Clough), offered to donate turf installation for the new batting cage at a substantially reduced price and to donate the work for approximately $5,000–$11,000 quoted costs depending on scope. Staff said the donation covers astroturf in the batting cage and will be recognized publicly; council suggested a modest, consistent donor recognition approach for smaller gifts as well.
Playground and other parks items: Staff described an upcoming new playground and a plan to adopt or update an existing parks master plan; parks staff recommended a work session with council and the parks/rec committee to review the existing master plan and link it to the general plan and trails planning. Parks staff also noted capital equipment replacement (mowers and trucks) and a rubber playground resurfacing estimate of about $59,000 to condition rubberized surfaces at multiple parks.
What’s next: Council asked staff to study the cost and timing of finishing pickleball landscaping using available bid savings and to report back administratively and at a future work session. The parks and recreation committee will be asked to revisit the master plan and prepare a recommended approach for council review and adoption.
