Palo Alto staff propose 25% residency rule for USTA teams as school district ends maintenance agreement

Palo Alto — City staff told the Parks and Recreation Commission on Aug. 26 that they plan to propose a minimum residency requirement of 25% for United States Tennis Association (USTA) teams seeking to reserve city courts, formalize greater access for Palo Alto youth groups during off-peak hours, and pursue stronger enforcement to curb long private lessons.

The policy proposal comes as the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) notified city staff that it intends to terminate its field-and-court maintenance and brokering agreement effective Nov. 11. Department staff said the district will honor existing user groups while the city and PAUSD transition reservation systems.

Why it matters: The combination of high demand for court time and the pending PAUSD change could reduce community access unless the city tightens rules, changes priorities for reservations or finds new facilities. Staff said the goal is to protect community priority access while keeping organized adult match play viable.

Adam Howard, senior community services manager, laid out three principal recommendations: (1) require USTA teams to include at least 25% Palo Alto residents to book city courts and give higher-residency teams priority when selecting match times and locations; (2) explore ways to improve enforcement of the existing prohibition…