Gilroy staff recommend four‑court pickleball complex at Los Animas Park after budget limits

City staff presented a plan Tuesday for a four‑court, lighted pickleball facility at Los Animas Park and told the Parks & Recreation Commission that the city cannot deliver a six‑court facility within the $800,000 the City Council has authorized.

The presentation outlined a site layout, accessibility improvements, fencing and lighting. Staff singled out two line items — roughly $220,000 for electrical and court lighting and about $75,000 for fencing — that together represent a significant portion of the early budget estimate. The staff recommendation calls for a concrete post‑tensioned slab to reduce cracking and settlement in the park’s soil; staff said that surface increases initial cost by roughly 10–15% but lowers long‑term maintenance.

The matter matters because council set an $800,000 budget for park improvements tied to this project. "With the budget that we have in place, we cannot build six courts," the presenter said, arguing the four‑court design best fits the funded scope while meeting tournament‑grade standards. Staff said the council also set aside $500,000 per year for the next two fiscal years in a parks allocation, which staff will factor into future planning but does not change the current cost estimate for a six‑court build.

Commissioners pressed staff on trade‑offs: could the project be phased to allow later expansion, how would lighting and fencing affect neighbors, and whether noise mitigation or padded equipment should be required. Staff responded that the proposal moves the courts away from adjacent residences to limit impacts and proposes shielded, cut‑off fixtures to minimize light spill. On noise mitigation, staff said some jurisdictions have tried padded paddles or other rules but that solutions are uneven and can degrade play.

Several commissioners pushed for larger capacity on grounds that pickleball fosters community building. One commissioner said the research supports larger facilities and urged pursuing six courts if feasible. Staff reiterated that prevailing wages and public‑bid requirements in a municipal project increase per‑court costs compared with some smaller private builds, and that bids for six courts pushed the project plan well beyond the council’s authorized amount.

Staff described the schedule to commissioners: an informational update to the City Council is planned for Oct. 6; if council endorses the scope, staff will prepare construction drawings and bid documents with an anticipated advertisement in spring 2026 and construction in summer 2026. The presenter said the design would include accessible walkways and required Americans with Disabilities Act improvements as part of the project.

The commission did not take a formal binding vote on the item but several members signaled support for moving the four‑court plan forward and asked staff to convey that sentiment to council. The Oct. 6 council discussion will be the chamber for any request to expand the scope or seek additional funding.

Next steps: staff will refine cost estimates, return updated scoping information to the commission and present the project to City Council on Oct. 6.