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Council approves Kite Monroe pickleball/tennis complex plan, awards fencing and surfacing contracts
Summary
Council chose a six-pickleball/ two-tennis configuration, accepted a Shorewood Kiwanis donation earmarked for pickleball, and awarded fencing and surfacing contracts totaling about $137,300; surfacing work will occur in spring 2026.
St. Clair Shores City Council on Oct. 6 approved a hybrid layout for the Kite Monroe courts — six pickleball courts and two tennis courts — and awarded contracts for fencing and court surfacing and striping.
Parks and Recreation Director Robert Spinazzola presented two layout options for the renovated Kite Monroe complex: a 6-pickleball/2-tennis configuration that allows one tennis court to convert to pickleball with rollaway nets, or a 7-pickleball/1-tennis layout. Council selected the 6-and-2 option, which staff said provides multipurpose use while preserving tennis facilities in the north end of the city.
The council awarded the fence contract to Kimberly Fence for $65,009.03 and authorized the surfacing, striping, and nets contract to Goddard Sports Surfaces for $72,300. Spinazzola told the council that Kimberly Fence was the low bidder after a rebid produced four responses; Goddard is a vendor the city has used before. The surfacing contractor cannot complete work this fall, so staff said the work will be scheduled for spring 2026. Spinazzola said staff will confirm a firm start date with the contractor and that an opening ribbon-cutting in spring would be planned.
Councilmember Karen noted the project’s funding mix and asked that staff separate out the costs that are attributable to the pickleball portion; the playgrounds and fields committee and city staff will prepare a budget amendment for the project once final costs are known. Parks staff confirmed that Shorewood Kiwanis donated $102,000 toward the pickleball courts; Spinazzola said staff will provide a breakdown to the donor showing how its gift was used. Councilmember Rubello and others said they favored the 6-and-2 option as a community compromise between tennis and pickleball players.
The council approved the fencing and surfacing awards on separate motions. The fence award was moved by Councilmember Rubello and supported by Councilmember Karen; the striping and nets award was moved and supported on the floor by city manager recommendation and approved unanimously. Councilmembers asked staff to supply a visible plaque and a sign that can be seen from the road recognizing the Shorewood Kiwanis donation.
Spinazzola also said that the asphalt stage of the work was completed in mid-September and that the fencing is the next step; paint and nets will follow in spring 2026. He described staging options to convert one tennis court quickly for pickleball play using rollaway nets and additional lines.
Votes at a glance: Council awarded the fencing contract to Kimberly Fence for $65,009.03 (moved by Councilmember Rubello, supported by Councilmember Karen) and the surfacing/striping and nets contract to Goddard Sports Surfaces for $72,300 (mover and seconder noted in meeting as per staff recommendation); both awards were approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
