Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Courts Reconfiguration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council weighs alternative plan to convert basketball area into pickleball courts, staff to pursue public engagement
Summary
Staff proposed an alternate, lower-cost plan to fit 10 pickleball courts into the existing basketball-court footprint at City Park and add two new basketball courts elsewhere; council gave staff a preliminary go-ahead to take the plan to the parks advisory board and launch public engagement rather than pursue the original $1.7 million proposal immediately.
Public Works Director Jennifer Ward told council the city had originally planned a roughly $1.7 million project to build 10 new pickleball courts at a north site, with grant funding under consideration. Ward presented an alternative: repurpose the basketball-court entry area at City Park to accommodate 10 pickleball courts and build two replacement basketball courts elsewhere, a configuration staff estimate would cost about one-third of the original plan.
Ward said the alternate plan could be pursued this fiscal year for basketball courts and that park surfacing work for pickleball would require warmer weather; she noted the grant for the original project would be a 50% reimbursement grant with a Nov. 17 application deadline. Ward estimated the alternative plan would save at least $700,000 and possibly more when compared with the original proposal.
Councilors asked about restroom and parking capacity, multiuse court lines (tennis vs. pickleball), phased construction, and whether the parks development charge (SDC) funds remain available given other acquisitions. Councilor Holzapol and others pressed for restroom access during events; staff noted portable restrooms (porta-potties) are commonly used for tournaments and that permanent restroom additions would likely be an SDC-eligible future expense.
When staff requested direction to take the alternate plan to the parks advisory board and proceed with public engagement, councilors indicated general support (a head nod and "Option A" support); staff said they would proceed to convene the parks board for public engagement and bring recommendations back to council.
