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Orland Park board moves ahead with pickleball courts, asks staff to add bid option for foundations
Summary
Staff presented plans for 14 new pickleball courts at the Sportsplex and Centennial Park and four shading options that range from portable fabric to full fixed structures. Trustees asked for phased approaches and asked staff to include optional foundation work in bids so shade could be added later; no final decision on shade was made.
Orland Park staff presented a site plan and options for building 14 pickleball courts across the Sportsplex and Centennial Park, proposing two outdoor courts adjacent to the Sportsplex and a 12‑court layout at Centennial. The committee treated the presentation as a discussion item and directed staff to prepare contract documents that include an optional foundation package to allow future shade structures without disrupting newly built courts.
What was presented: Staff explained the layout, an anticipated base cost of approximately $1,500,000 for the courts themselves, and four shade options: individual fabric shades (about $150,000 per shade, roughly $1.8 million total), modular steel structures covering four courts each (approx. $2.5 million total), and full fixed coverage of 12 courts (circa $7 million). Staff also noted foundations could be installed now for about $400,000 to allow future additions with less disruption.
Trustees pressed on costs and revenue potential. Trustee Malani questioned why the village would provide shades when other recreation fields do not, asking how the village would recoup such costs. Trustee Milani said: "So anywhere from 1.1 to $7,000,000 to shade pickleball courts. Is that what I just heard?" Staff (Khurshid) responded that shade would extend playing hours and make the venue more attractive for tournaments, and that contingency and foundations are commonly used to reduce future disruption.
Board direction: Trustees expressed interest in building the courts now and said they would consider foundation work or phased shade installations later if warranted. The committee did not vote on funding or construction tonight; instead staff were instructed to include foundation options in forthcoming bid documents and return with refined cost estimates.
Next steps: Staff will prepare bid documents that include optional foundation work and phased shade choices, refine cost estimates and present contract and financing options for committee and village board consideration before construction starts (anticipated early 2027).
