Council approves expanded Central Park tennis project as USTA backs full 18‑court build

The Schenectady City Council finance committee voted to move forward an amended agreement with USTA Eastern that expands a previously planned tennis renovation to all 18 courts at Central Park and approved awarding the construction contract to Gallo Construction Corporation. The amendment updates last year’s arrangement — originally scoped for eight base courts with an alternate of 10 — after USTA Eastern agreed to provide additional funding so the city can renovate all 18 Central Park courts. Under the usage agreement discussed at the committee meeting, USTA Eastern and its affiliate 15 Love would have priority use of the courts and a 20‑year use term ending Dec. 31, 2046; the agreement also caps the city’s funding contribution and allows USTA to terminate the agreement if costs are found excessive (Section 2, part 1 of the proposed contract). Committee members discussed timing, construction logistics and parking. City staff told the committee they had received multiple bids (six to seven depending on the item) and that the low bid for the court work was within the city’s budget. The committee also received a letter from the project consultant recommending the low bidder. The construction contract for the Central Park tennis improvements was awarded to Gallo Construction Corporation; Gallo will serve as general contractor and use a specialist subcontractor to install the court surfaces. City staff said the contractor plans to close the courts for construction (contingent on contractor scheduling) from about Sept. 15 through June 1 of the following year to meet tournament and season timing. Staff also said USTA may purchase additional items not covered by the city’s capped contribution and that USTA Eastern will provide a written letter of concurrence for the council meeting. Council members raised parking and enforcement concerns for tournament days and peak uses. Staff said Fair Avenue is being reworked with millings and reconfiguration to add parking capacity for the pool, diamond and tennis complex, though no new dedicated parking is included in the current tennis contract. Staff noted the park’s overall utilization has risen and that enforcement and consistent parking rules will need to be addressed to avoid selective ticketing during large events. The committee approved the motion to move the USTA amendment forward and approved the Gallo contract. Staff said they would follow up with the USTA and the project consultant and begin coordination with the awarded contractor.