Ocean Shores board: Emerson resurfacing, new pickleball courts moving forward; basketball backboard retrofit stalls

Ocean Shores Parks Board members on April 9 reported progress and obstacles on multiple park facility projects: Emerson Park resurfacing and four outdoor pickleball courts won a lower bid, basketball backboard replacements do not fit existing poles, and camera and light installations at North Beach and the skate park await a city electrician.

"We asked for $60,000 and I believe the new bid came in just over $40,000," Parks Board member Bill Sport said of the Emerson Park resurfacing. Board members said crews have pressure-washed the surface, and resurfacing and pickleball striping will proceed when conditions are dry. The plan is to convert one tennis court to four pickleball courts while leaving the adjacent tennis court unchanged.

Board members said the Emerson work should be ready by early summer if weather cooperates. The lower bid means savings for the city compared with earlier estimates, Sport said, and the board expects increased community use once outdoor courts are available.

On basketball courts, Sport said the new regulation backboards cannot be fastened to the existing poles with the available hardware. Public works tried retrofitting but reported the fasteners do not work; the board discussed replacing pole plates or buying new poles to accept the backboards. No final procurement decision was made.

The board also asked for an update from public works on cameras and lights at Chinook North Beach and the skate park; Sport said installations were waiting on the city hiring a full-time electrician. The board tabled further discussion until the city provides a staffing update.

No formal votes were taken on any of these items during the meeting.