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Traverse Park hitting wall approved pending neighbor outreach; tennis group offers to fund repairs
Summary
The Sample Tennis Association proposed and funded a bolted hitting wall at Traverse Park; commissioners approved the wall contingent on neighborhood consultation and discussed court repainting and a range of repair bids.
The Sample Tennis Association asked the Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Commission on July 8 for permission to install a hitting wall at Traverse Park and offered matching funds for court maintenance.
John Riopel, identified by staff as the STA president, told the commission the group had raised money and planned a 20‑foot by 10‑foot wall similar in concept to an existing Lakeview Park installation. "We raised the money. We have a plan. We just need your okay to get it built," Riopel said, describing expected use by high school teams and community players.
Commissioners focused on two practical concerns: neighbor noise and sightlines for spectators. Several commissioners said noise had been an issue with past park features and asked whether materials or placement could reduce sound. Dan (a city engineer who joined the discussion) and others suggested testing noise levels at the Lakeview wall and consulting with police and the city attorney if neighbors had past complaints.
STA representatives also presented court‑repair proposals. Line‑painting for two courts was estimated at about $3,500 by a local contractor; a full resurfacing quote from a regional vendor was in the $31,000–$38,000 range depending on scope and the south courts’ condition. Riopel said STA could fund the hitting wall and match on court work; commissioners suggested the association might finance a $3,500 re‑lining as a near‑term fix while larger resurfacing remains a longer‑term project.
After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the hitting‑wall proposal on the condition that neighbors be consulted and mutual ground be found; another commissioner seconded the motion and the commission voted in favor. The motion included instructions to coordinate neighbor outreach and verify any legal/noise constraints before construction begins.
Next steps: Staff and STA will coordinate neighbor outreach, consult police and the city attorney regarding noise or code concerns if necessary, and return any substantive changes to the commission before construction or procurement begins.
