Foundation asks permission to inspect campus courts, proposes limited volunteer repairs and possible pickleball conversion

The Richland County education standing committee heard on an agenda item from the Richland County Campus Foundation asking for permission to inspect and perform minor repairs on outdoor courts at the campus and to explore converting one tennis court to pickleball. The foundation representative said volunteers could remove plastic tiles, examine the underlying surface and, if feasible, resurface or convert one court at modest cost.

The request matters because the courts are used by students and the public, and foundation members said current surface conditions create slip hazards and accelerate deterioration if left unaddressed. Committee members emphasized the need for a fuller proposal and for campus stakeholders to be consulted before work begins.

Dwayne Simonson, identified in the meeting as a foundation representative, told the committee: “I’m interested in doing a little bit of a look at the courts. There’s 3 tennis courts and a basketball court…they haven’t been fixed or repaired for quite a while and need a little maintenance.” Simonson described volunteers who could remove the plastic tiles, shovel built-up sediment and “put a little cement, a little acrylic surfacer” if needed, and said the foundation would be willing to pick up minimal material costs.

Michael Compton, campus administrator, said the committee needed more detail before approving on‑site work. “I’d like to see more of a proposal of what it would look like and the details, what the cost would be, what the impact on the campus and the courses would be first,” he said. Committee members asked that Simonson coordinate with campus staff and Gail Hoffman, who Committee members said had previously signaled support for volunteer work on “one of the courts.”

Committee members raised technical concerns: one member said the courts appear to have a “springy” underlayer that might affect neighboring courts if only a single court is altered, and asked that someone familiar with the original construction inspect the substructure before work begins. Simonson and others said their initial work would be limited to removing a section of the plastic tiles to assess the condition beneath and then restoring the surface if no conversion is feasible.

The committee did not vote on a formal authorization; members agreed Simonson should coordinate with Gail Hoffman and the campus steering committee, then report back with a written proposal and an assessment of any impacts on campus programs.

The committee also discussed whether foundation representatives could attend the foundation’s upcoming meeting; Roseanne Knorr, introduced at the meeting as the foundation’s new executive director, said she had just received the committee’s letter and expected the foundation to discuss it at its next meeting. Knorr said the foundation’s meeting would be held at the Smart Farm barn at 5:00 p.m.

Next steps: committee members asked the foundation to provide a written proposal after campus staff (including Gail Hoffman) and the steering committee have reviewed the plan. The committee emphasized that permission to remove tiles for inspection should follow consultation with campus program leaders so that academic and recreational users are not adversely affected.