Board debates placement of two new sand volleyball courts; residents raise safety and HOA concerns

The Belgrade Regional Parks, Trails and Recreation District discussed where to place two permanent sand volleyball courts funded in this year's budget. The parks director said the budget includes money to build two courts, "which will take up a total space of 80 feet by 100 feet," and recommended Prairie View Park adjacent to the play structure to avoid removing existing field space.

A resident speaking during the discussion said they had consulted their homeowners association and reported the HOA was "very much against it," raising concerns that small children often occupy the pavilion area and might be displaced by courts placed near the play structure. Board members asked whether youth sports are organized by the HOA or another group, suggested mapping and Google Maps overlays to visualize the 80-by-100-foot footprint, and raised parking and shade-tree considerations.

Board members discussed alternatives including Corbett Park, Sunnyside and Lewis and Clark Park to spread amenities geographically and avoid concentrating new facilities on one side of town; the director confirmed the plan was to build two courts at a single site to allow competitions and tournaments. Technical details surfaced during the exchange: the proposed courts would use sand rated for volleyball, most construction would be in-house and the work would involve limited excavation and irrigation-line adjustments.

The director told the board staff would follow up with measurements, configuration options and outreach to youth-sports organizers and neighborhood stakeholders before purchasing materials or beginning on-site work. No formal site decision was made at the meeting; the director will return with maps or overlays and additional analysis.