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Rohnert Park council delays park master plan amendment amid pickleball court funding debate
Summary
Council members agreed to pull the Parks & Recreation Master Plan item for further analysis after residents urged the city to restore funding for Sunrise/Magnolia courts; staff said funding shortfalls forced deferred maintenance and announced childcare and Magnolia Pool closures starting July 1 due to budget cuts.
Residents and council members pressed the Rohnert Park City Council on May 20 to prioritize repair and upgrades to local tennis and pickleball courts after staff confirmed the projects were not included in the finalized Parks and Recreation Master Plan because available funding disappeared after the plan draft.
Miriam Pengal, president of the Rohnert Park Pickleball Club, told the council the community had been promised new courts and said project cost estimates rose to about $2,800,000 for combined tennis and pickleball work. She asked the council to review the June 10 budget packet and to consider restoring funds. Members of the public and several councilors expressed frustration over delays and asked staff to add the court projects to the master plan as an amendment or addendum so the projects would be memorialized.
City staff said a contractor bid came in higher than expected and that the city has repurposed some previously identified money to help balance a roughly $5,000,000 gap in the city’s budget for the coming fiscal year. Community Services staff (Cindy) described short‑term repairs that have been done in house and announced program reductions tied to budget constraints: childcare at the Callanan Sports & Fitness Center will end July 1, and Magnolia Pool will remain closed this season; staff noted last year only 78 people used Magnolia’s recreation swim for the whole summer.
Public Works Director Vanessa Garrett described earlier crack‑seal work and said long‑term solutions require excavation, soil replacement, and contractor resurfacing beyond the current in‑house capacity. Councilors directed staff to pull the master plan item, request consultant analysis of the implications and costs of adding Sunrise and Magnolia projects, and return with additional information rather than making the amendment immediately.
Council asked staff to ensure transparent communication and to provide clear avenues for residents to report construction or maintenance complaints. Staff also said the Rohnert Park Foundation will provide subsidies for underserved youth to participate in summer recreation beginning July 1, with details to follow.
