Title
Staff Request for Recreation and Park Commission Review of the Krusi Park Tennis Court Resurfacing Project to be Completed Without Adding Pickleball Lines, and Request for Commission Comment on Other Potential Pickleball Venues in Alameda.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Dave J. Leimsieder, Acting Director, Recreation and Parks
BACKGROUND
In December 2022, the Recreation & Park Commission approved the FY 2023-24 Park Priority List. This Priority List sets clear direction for priority projects requiring staff attention and funding during the upcoming calendar year. Resurfacing of the Tennis Courts at Krusi Park was identified as a High Priority project. In the process of planning for this project, staff identified an opportunity to add additional lines to the updated court surface that would allow for both Pickleball and Tennis to be played interchangeably. Additionally, staff has identified other locations in Alameda as potential sites that could be retrofitted into playable Pickleball Courts.
DISCUSSION
In consideration of various user groups, and local neighborhood residents, staff identified a need for public comment to be heard before proceeding with adding new Pickleball lines to the existing Krusi Park Tennis Courts as part of the resurfacing project.
• A public Meeting was held on March 23, 2023 at Krusi Park.
o More than 70 members of the public were in attendance including members of the Pickleball and Tennis Community as well as several neighboring residents.
o Several members of the Pickleball Community expressed concerns about the limited available dedicated court space in Alameda - limited to Lincoln Park.
o Various members of the Tennis community expressed a willingness to share the court spaces and even recommended using the space as a “training facility” to provide private lessons and Pickleball classes.
o A vast majority of neighborhood residents expressed serious concern about potential community impacts that would come from adding Pickleball lines to the existing courts.
§ Cited concerns included added traffic impact, high decibel noise, loss of potential privacy, impact of light pollution from late evening play, and overall community safety.
• Both Tennis and Pickleball community members were provided opportunities to meet with staff ahead of the larger community meeting upon request.
o Members of USTA (United States Tennis Assoc.) met with Acting Director Dave Leimsieder and Acting Recreation Services Manager Matt Nowlen after requesting the meeting to discuss the Krusi Park proposal and other alternative venues for Tennis and Pickleball in Alameda.
o Members of the Pickleball community also requested a meeting with ARPD staff, however a time and date to meet were never confirmed by the Pickleball group.
• Numerous members of the community also wrote various emails both in support of and opposition to the proposed Pickleball lines being added.
• Adverse reaction and strong opposition to the project has included threat of legal action to delay, and stop the project all together.
o Several members of the community asked about alternative options for Pickleball Courts including court spaces at Alameda Point, amongst others.
ALTERNATIVES
• Staff can still move forward without adding Pickleball lines and have the Krusi Park Tennis Courts resurfaced with just Tennis court lines being replaced.
• Several other sites have been explored as potential venues for Pickleball and could still be considered in the future.
• Estuary Park Phase 2 will have four new Pickleball Courts when it opens in 2024.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
• No anticipated impact at this time; Krusi Park Tennis Court Resurfacing is currently funded as part of the FY 2023 revised budget.
• The Financial Impact for other locations has been estimated, but there is no definitive cost or funding source that has been identified for additional Pickleball Courts at this time.
RECOMMENDATION
At this time, ARPD staff does not believe that it is in the best interest of the community to move forward with adding Pickleball lines to the existing Krusi Park Tennis Courts. ARPD staff can still move forward without adding the Pickleball lines and arrange for the Tennis Courts to be resurfaced with only the Tennis court lines being replaced. Currently the playing surface is in dire need of repair and resurfacing regardless of whether Pickleball lines are added or not.
Discussion of alternative locations for Pickleball and/or Tennis Courts is encouraged, however ARPD staff remain committed to following through with existing projects detailed in the FY 2023-24 Park Priority List. Staff capacity and resources continue to be limited, therefore any new projects proposed for this calendar year would need to bump other existing projects on the Priority List of similar scope and budget.
Staff is seeking Recreation and Park Commissioner Review, and comment on the Krusi Park Tennis Court Resurfacing project and other potential Pickleball venues in Alameda.
Respectfully submitted,
Dave J. Leimsieder, Acting Director, Recreation and Parks
Exhibits:
1. Exhibit 1 - Public Comment Pickleball
2. Exhibit 2 - Commentary 3-23 Community Meeting