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Sun City West board keeps platform‑tennis renovation in capital plan after club objections to conversions
Summary
After a lengthy debate with the tennis club, the board left funding in the proposed 2026–27 capital plan to repair four platform‑tennis courts and directed staff to refine scope and pricing; the board discussed larger conversion options but club leaders urged preserving platform tennis.
The Rec Centers of Sun City West governing board on Feb. 13 affirmed placement of platform‑tennis work in the coming capital plan after a protracted exchange between staff and tennis‑club leaders over alternate uses for the court area.
Hershel, a staff project lead, presented three options: renovate the existing four platform courts (budgeted at $35,000), renovate two courts and add six red‑ball courts (an additional roughly $150,000 if a post‑tension slab were required), or reserve the area for review under the master plan. Hershel said one proprietary surface option (post‑tension concrete plus fencing and LED lighting) could push estimates higher if full replacement and equipment changes are required.
"If we renovate all four platform tennis courts, that budget current cost is $35,000," Hershel said; he added that a more extensive conversion with new slab and fencing could reach approximately $305,000 after including LED lighting and fencing replacements, subject to final contractor quotes.
Tennis‑club representatives, including past club president Larry Plaster, urged keeping all four platform courts as platform tennis. Plaster said court 16—funded largely by the club and heavily used for ball‑machine practice and instruction—should not be repurposed. "Court 16 faces east and west, which is awful for playing tennis," he said, explaining club reliance on that court for instruction and machine practice.
Board members split between two lines of reasoning: several urged not to delay repairs of an existing asset and noted a safety and accessibility rationale for timely renovation; others emphasized the master‑plan process and recommended preserving flexibility. Staff repeatedly said the dollars should remain in the CIP so that work can start in the coming fiscal year if the board decides.
The board did not adopt a final construction contract at the workshop. Staff described the estimates as preliminary: one vendor had quoted roughly $220,000 for a post‑tension replacement and staff added roughly $100,000 to cover fencing and LED lighting in an upper‑end scenario, producing a $305,000 figure that remains subject to contractor bids.
Why it matters: platform tennis is a unique recreational asset in the western U.S.; club leaders say poor playing surfaces have driven participation down and pose safety concerns. Directors said preserving the community’s unique assets is an important consideration while also recognizing the master‑plan process could shape longer‑term site decisions.
What’s next: staff will refine quotes and scope, consult with the tennis club and the properties committee, and return recommendations as part of the capital‑budget review this spring.
