Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Park board keeps CourtReserve scheduling app through this season amid cost concerns
Summary
The Bristol Park Board agreed to continue paying for the CourtReserve pickleball scheduling app through the end of the season while monitoring usage and exploring fundraising, after hearing that prior volunteers had covered the service and that the fee has risen from roughly $50/month to about $199/month in season.
The Bristol Park Board voted to continue the CourtReserve scheduling subscription for its pickleball courts through the end of the season and to monitor monthly usage before deciding whether to renew.
At the meeting, Jill demonstrated how CourtReserve organizes court reservations, allows the board to block out dates for tournaments or maintenance, and provides metrics on reservations and active users. She said the Georges — long‑time volunteer managers of the courts — had previously paid the subscription; the board learned the cost has climbed from roughly $50 a month in earlier years to about $199 a month in season, plus a smaller off‑season fee.
Board members discussed tradeoffs: removing the subscription could create scheduling confusion and complaints, while keeping it is a recurring budget item that could rise further. “If we don't have a structure for organizing the schedule, other people will create their own structure,” one member said, arguing that CourtReserve prevents conflicts and on‑site disputes.
The board heard usage metrics: Jill reported the account lists about 320 active signups associated with local courts, though board members noted that signups are not the same as unique players and asked to track monthly reservation activity closely. Members proposed offsetting the cost with a targeted fundraiser or by drawing on the endowment that supports park improvements.
After discussion, a motion to continue CourtReserve through the end of the season passed in a voice vote. The board directed staff to record monthly usage statistics from CourtReserve so the board can evaluate whether the subscription is cost‑effective at season's end. The board also asked parks staff to follow up with the Georges for transition guidance and to gather a brief maintenance checklist they previously maintained.
Next steps: staff will (1) keep CourtReserve active month to month, (2) collect and report reservation and unique‑user metrics each month, and (3) return to the board at season end with a recommendation on renewal.
