Carlsbad parks update: pool construction, pickleball courts, turf work and fall programs

City parks staff reported project updates and recent programming at the Sept. 15 meeting of the City of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Commission, covering construction at Monroe Street pool, planning steps for Veterans Memorial Park, design work for new pickleball courts, turf and synthetic-turf replacements, and several summer events and senior programs.

Ashley Benson, Recreation Services Manager, reviewed recent community programming, including swim-safety outreach with the library, a senior center ping-pong tournament, the Leo Carrillo Ranch car show, the Aloha Plunge, Snores & S'mores overnight camping, and a federally funded Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program that distributed 90 benefit cards on the initial day and later additional cards to reach about 122 participants. Benson also outlined upcoming fall offerings and special events including a superhero obstacle race on Oct. 5 and a Pumpkin Plunge on Oct. 18.

Todd Rees and other staff provided project updates. Monroe Street pool demolition is complete and work on the new tank, mechanical building and foundations is underway; the target completion date is in 2026. Veterans Memorial Park design revisions are being prepared for a Sept. 23 deadline with council action expected in the fall to authorize advertisement for bids and later award construction. Design and permitting for four new outdoor pickleball courts each at Calavera Hills and Stagecoach Community Parks are at about 90% in September, with final design expected in October and city-council authorization to advertise for bids to follow. Rees also described completed turf renovation work at several athletic fields and a recent natural-grass replacement at Poinsettia Dog Park (re-sodded with Bermuda turf), and reported resurfacing and renovation nearing completion at Carlsbad High School tennis courts.

Staff noted an ongoing program of fire-mitigation tree pruning and removals in high-risk interface zones; council previously approved $300,000 for this work and another $300,000 is included in the current fiscal year. Rees said work will proceed at four targeted locations and implementation is planned in coming months. The department also reported trail volunteer events and that the city will present a five-year joint-powers agreement with California Department of Parks and Recreation to continue maintenance of the coastal bluff and upper Tamarack picnic areas.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about species selection (staff noted Tipuana tipu are no longer on the approved species list for street trees), contractor procurement for tree work (landscape/tree maintenance contracts run in multi-year terms with a competitive process; current contractor West Coast Arborists is a frequent regional bidder), and inspection follow-up for recent Alga Norte pool work. Staff said follow-up inspections and corrective measures are in process and that many maintenance tasks are performed using a mix of in-house crews and contracted resources.

No formal motions or votes were taken on the program and project updates. Staff said items that require council authorization — for example, bid advertisements and construction awards — will return to the City Council for formal action.