Staff outlines playground replacement, tennis-court repair options and field lighting problems

Deputy Department staff reported several facility updates and capital improvement proposals during the Culture and Leisure Services Board meeting.

The deputy director said staff removed two worn playground pieces at Sandpiper Park after one support failed and a popular climbing feature was deemed unsafe; replacement of the full playground is proposed in the CIP at $500,000 and has been moved to fiscal year 2025–26. Staff noted much of the Canaveral City Park work would be paid from the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) funding rather than the city general fund.

On the little-league field, staff reported the right-field pole lighting is out and that the problem appears to be on the city’s electrical side; staff are soliciting contractor quotes for permanent repair. For tennis courts, vendors returned three scopes: a short-term paving fix, a full remove-and-replace (about $400,000), and a middle option to remove and recompact Court 5 and resurface all five courts — the middle option was the staff-preferred approach as it is nearer current budget constraints. Staff estimated a bidding period of roughly 30 days and construction windows of 28–48 days depending on contractor scheduling.

Staff also discussed smaller revenue and repurposing ideas: removing underused shuffleboard courts (which generate roughly $600–700 a year), repurposing salvageable fence sections for other parks, testing volunteer demolition where legally appropriate, and exploring small grant pilots for HOA/condo community gardens to expand food-access opportunities. The deputy director said staff will present more detailed cost estimates and schedules to the board and to the city council as projects move toward formal CIP approval.