Council Debates Racquet Center

The first City Council meeting of the new year looked into a number of issues, some of which saw councilors dig deep into the details of several matters before them, some of which they have reviewed previously.

One of those such issues was the growing pressure to deal with the increasing popularity of pickleball, not only throughout the nation but here on the island and the county itself.

Earlier last year the city contracted with Colorado based Ballard*King and Associates, a Recreational Facilities Consultant, to create a facilities overview of the city’s existing Racquet Center.

There were no major surprises in what the consultant had to say that the community engaged in this issue didn’t already know. However, it sometimes takes an independent set of eyes to look at an issue to ensure they are proceeding in the proper direction.

Ballard*King and Associates gave the council an overview of the growth of the relatively new sport which has been sweeping the nation and detailed the demographics of how that growth is occurring. They also gave a rather sober assessment of the current issues facing facilities.

At present there are 371 pickleball members that belong to the Racquet Center with 163 individuals on the waitlist for membership. That is compared to 86 tennis members and only 10 for racquetball. 

The report also pointed out that there are no active marketing plans in place to promote the city’s racquet center. They also pointed out the poor condition of the racquetball building and the need for maintenance on the city’s irrigation system on the existing clay courts for tennis.

Carlos Portu, the chairperson for the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, reviewed the significant capital needs of the aging facilities as well as the need for additional parking due to the increase in demand for pickleball.

By evening’s end the council agreed to move forward in a phased process which would involve converting two of the existing tennis courts into eight pickleball courts to relieve pressure on the availability of usable pickleball courts. This would give the city more time to study and possibly adopt the fourth option presented by the consultant which would result in the removal of the under-utilized racquetball building which would be converted over to additional parking and reconfigure the entire footprint of the Racquet Center itself.

Council referred this plan back to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee for their comments and cost estimates on initially converting two of those courts over to pickleball courts. The motion was moved by Council Vice-Chair Grifoni and Councilman Brechnitz seconded that motion. That motion passed.

Adoption of that suggestion may see the entire complex becoming a total pickleball center, recognizing today’s demand for that sport over all others. It will also give councilors an opportunity to study how to finance and phase in those improvements should they later adopt the strategy moving forward after capital construction costs are identified.