Sports Pavilion committee hears $1.2M–plus plan to replace aging pinsetters, lanes and oiling machines

The Sports Pavilion Bowling Committee on Jan. 8 received an informational presentation on a proposed FY2026 capital repair-and-replacement package for the bowling center that focuses on replacing the bowling pinsetters, lane oiling machines, gutters and lane equipment.

Committee members were told the pinsetters are nearly 20 years old and that several other lane systems are 20–40 years old, making parts hard to source. Gary Zarik, sports pavilion manager, said the work would be staged so the house stays open — replacing one half of the center at a time — and staff are targeting a summer 2026 installation window so fall league play is not disrupted. He said staff prefer to place equipment orders in January–February 2026 to allow factory lead time and to reduce the risk of shipping delays.

The capital package presented to the committee is part of the broader proposed FY25‑26 capital improvement program. Staff described a bowling‑center share of roughly $1.2 million for lane equipment and related items and said those requests have been funded from reserves that have been built up over several years specifically for major R&R work. The broader proposed CIP shown to the committee included $2,068,000 in recreation repair-and-replacement items, $2,715,000 for golf/landscaping repair-and-replacement and $520,000 in allowances; proposed new capital was listed at $190,000.

Zarik described the pinsetters and oiling machines as the highest priorities. He told the committee that the center has one oiling machine from 2008 and another from 2016; he and staff recommended buying two identical state‑of‑the‑art machines so lane conditions are consistent and parts/support are standardized. For pinsetters, staff reported an earlier quote of about $825,000 (obtained last spring) and a more recent supplier estimate in the roughly $858,600 range, which staff said effectively reflects several percent of price escalation since the initial quote.

Committee members pressed on how the bowling center’s heavy usage affects equipment life. Zarik estimated equipment has undergone hundreds of thousands of “passes” over its service life; in discussion, members noted that when a pair of lanes fails on a busy night, operations and customer experience are affected. Staff said replacement parts are harder to obtain for older equipment and that continuing to run mixed older/new machines complicates maintenance and lane consistency for competitive bowlers.

Other lane items on the R&R list include subway ball tracks, gutter capping, an automatic bumper system and lane foul lights; staff said some of those items are decades old and sometimes impossible to maintain because parts are no longer manufactured.

Staff emphasized the proposal is informational at the committee level and that the governing board will review the CIP and vote as part of the annual budget process. Carl Wilhelm, who the committee noted is retiring after long service on capital projects, joined staff in describing the timeline; staff said architectural and electrical load studies are being finalized and that the design team expects to complete construction documents in the next month to six weeks. Staff said they have spoken with a general contractor and received encouraging informal “ballpark” pricing.

Committee members praised staff for the operational improvements made at the Sports Pavilion and asked that staff pursue measures that limit impacts to members — including controlling outside crowds at entertainment events. Staff said they have already adjusted the entertainment mix to reduce non‑member lines and will continue to manage shows to preserve member access.

No formal action or vote was taken; staff described the presentation as informational and said they would return with final plans and budget language for the governing board and budget & finance committee later in the spring. The committee tour of the bowling center was announced for Jan. 14 so members can see lane equipment and condition in person.

The committee chair closed the item by noting the proposed bowling‑center expenditures are planned from reserve funds that have been set aside for years, and that staff are accounting for anticipated price escalation when preparing the FY26 request.