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Committee hears proposal to replace nets and lighting at pickleball courts amid golf-range safety concerns
Summary
Parks staff described a proposal to replace pole-mounted lighting, poles and netting at the tennis/pickleball area to improve safety after golf balls have reached courts; options include taller netting, new LED lighting and relocating tee boxes.
Parks staff told the advisory committee they have proposed a 2025'26 budget project to replace existing lighting, poles and netting at the tennis/pickleball area to reduce risk from golf balls and lower long-term maintenance costs.
Why it matters: Committee members and staff discussed safety incidents, the visual impact of tall netting near the golf clubhouse, and whether moving tee boxes or installing taller netting at the edge of the driving range would be preferable. The committee acknowledged the issue overlaps parks and golf-course operations and said final decisions would likely come from council in consultation with golf-course management.
What staff proposed
Katie, Parks & Recreation staff, described a capital proposal that would replace four poles, upgrade all fixtures to LED, and install taller netting (she said the proposal contemplated 35-foot netting instead of the current 25-foot net), with a 10-year warranty on the new system. Staff said replacing lights also reduces maintenance time: currently replacing one light can take multiple staff-hours, and the existing fixtures are becoming obsolete and harder to source.
Discussion points
- Netting placement: committee members suggested alternatives including moving nets closer to teeing areas, installing nets nearer the driving range, or changing location of tee boxes to reduce balls traveling toward courts. - Jurisdiction and decision-making: the committee noted that if netting or tees are moved onto golf-course property the golf operations manager (named in the meeting as Greg Saul) and council would be central to the final decision. - Aesthetic concerns: members said tall nets can be an "eyesore" when visible from clubhouse dining areas; that concern must be balanced against safety and cost.
Next steps
Staff will refine the cost estimate, include the item in the 2025-26 budget proposal, and coordinate with golf management (Greg Saul) and city council for final direction. Committee members asked for quotes and maintenance-cost comparisons so council can weigh visual impacts against safety and long-term savings from LED lighting.
Ending
No final action was taken; the proposal will return as a budget item and staff will seek input from golf operations before council consideration.
