Tennis and pickleball advocates pressed Parks and Recreation staff after learning the East Boulder recreation center racket project has been put on hold. Don Bergl, president of the Global Tennis Association, told the board he and other players were surprised and angry after years of planning and public outreach: “The community has received no detailed explanation of what happened or what the new plan is... We're gonna mobilize the community,” he said.

Board and staff described the pause as an administrative consequence of a hiring freeze and planning‑team vacancies rather than a policy reversal. Director Ali said the planning team recently lost staff and that the department has “approval to recruit for those” positions; she said the project timeline will be updated as planners are hired. Jackson Haidt, budget and planning staff, said several projects were delayed because the department had fewer planning staff available to finish designs and coordinate construction: “We have many projects that are impacted by the vacancies that we have on the planning team,” he said, and staff plan to return with more information in August.

Advocates also asked about the separate Tom Watson court project. Ali said the Tom Watson project is proceeding but has slowed because hazardous conditions in an associated bathroom require demolition before construction can proceed; staff expect only modest delay. Judy Emery, a board member with the BOCO Pickleball Club, urged continued outreach to organized players and said the club wants to be kept informed of schedule changes: “Please, please continue to talk with us as you continue to sign and maybe modify what is or was the existing plan so that, again, we can communicate with our constituents.”

Staff said funding for the East Boulder project remains allocated but that staff must dig into final designs to confirm scope and to identify any funding gap. During discussion Jackson and others referenced roughly $1.8 million to $2.3 million cited for project funding at various points in the meeting; staff said final numbers will be shown when planning capacity allows the team to finish design and cost estimates.

Board members asked staff to keep tennis and pickleball groups informed while staff recruits planning personnel. Ali said communications staffing was recently filled and that the department will work to catch up on public web updates and to provide timelines to stakeholders as soon as possible.