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Council approves Haller Middle School pickleball courts using county grant and city funds, with signage requirement
Summary
The council approved use of a $200,000 county grant and additional city funds to build pickleball courts at Haller Middle School, adding a city park sign on fencing indicating hours; staff said construction documents will go to bid in June and work is planned over the summer.
The Arlington City Council approved funding for outdoor pickleball courts at Haller Middle School, using a $200,000 county grant and additional city funds to cover higher-than-expected construction costs. Councilmember Deborah Nelson moved the approval and the motion passed.
Paul (staff) told the council the county awarded $200,000 specifically for the project and that construction costs had increased since an earlier 2024 budget allocation of about $140,000 was not carried forward into 2025. Paul said the city must act before the county grant expires at the end of the year; if the council abandons the project staff requested authority to extinguish interlocal agreements (ILAs) with the county and the school district.
Council discussion included concerns about fiscal prudence and neighborhood impacts. Councilmember Deborah Nelson said she was “very uncomfortable passing the $200,000 now” because the money had not been carried forward in the 2025 general budget and she urged caution given economic uncertainty. Nelson also raised noise concerns based on outreach about other communities’ experiences.
Other councilmembers supported proceeding because the funding source is a construction sales-tax account that is separate from the city general fund. Councilmember Heather Logan said the construction sales-tax account “is not subject [to the general fund],” and described the project as an opportunity to serve a different demographic. Councilmember Yvonne Gallardo said noise was a consideration but believed the site was appropriate and that existing summer activities already create comparable noise.
The approved motion included a requirement that the city place a city park sign on the fencing for the courts stating ownership and approximate hours of public access. Paul said the project is on a timeline: city staff will finish construction documents so the project can go to bid in June, with construction planned over the summer and completion aimed before the school year begins. Staff also said the county grant expires at the end of the year if not used.
Why it matters: The decision commits awarded grant funds to a community recreation project and sets expectations for the site’s ownership and signage; council members recorded both fiscal and neighborhood-quality-of-life concerns before approving the project.
