Title
Recommendation to Authorize Staff to Convert One Tennis Court to Four Pickleball Courts at Washington Park.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Review and Recommend Converting One Tennis Court to Four Pickleball Courts at Washington Park.
BACKGROUND
In 2016, the Recreation and Parks Department converted the underutilized tennis court at Lincoln Park into four pickleball Courts. The continued popularity and ongoing interest in this program has resulted in the need to develop and provide additional opportunities within the community.
Pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, is a paddleball sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. It is played in either singles or doubles format on a court that is a quarter the size of tennis.
Washington Park is located in Central Alameda at 8th Street and Central Avenue. The tennis court complex, located in Lower Washington Park is heavily utilized and has lighting and adjacent parking.
DISCUSSION
Pickleball is an activity that is especially attractive to individuals no longer able to play tennis, active seniors, and is now growing to include families and youth participants. Since the playing area is smaller than a tennis court, participants enjoy the benefits of tennis while being able to handle the rigors of the game. Additionally, the ease of learning and playing allows people to strengthen their self-esteem and socialize while playing. The current facility at Lincoln Park no longer fulfills the community demand for pickleball.
It is proposed that the Washington Tennis Court #4 (Exhibit 1), which is one tennis court, be converted into four pickleball courts. The scope of work includes repair, resurface and lining the existing court into four pickleball courts. Damaged portions of the wind screen will be removed and replaced.
Staff considered multiple locations before determining that the Washington Park court was best suited for this conversion. Other tennis facilities considered include Krusi Park, Franklin Park and Longfellow Park. The first consideration was location and equity to ensure there are pickleball courts located in central/west Alameda since the existing courts at Lincoln Park are on the east end of Alameda. Krusi and Franklin Parks are both on the east end with limited parking and therefore were not considered. Longfellow Park is on the west end but has extremely limited parking and only one tennis court. There are no other tennis courts located on the west side of Alameda.
Washington Park has a parking lot and lighted facilities for extended play. The parking lot is a key component as the four pickleball courts can often attract up to 20 or more players at a time because it is a short game with quick turnover of players. There has been an increase of players at Washington Park since the pandemic began but this is in large part because other tennis facilities such as at Harbor Bay Club and College of Alameda have not re-opened. In addition, St. Joseph’s High School tennis teams are currently playing at Washington Park weekdays through May because they are not yet allowed to play at Harbor Bay Club which is normally their practice and game location. Staff anticipates this usage will reduce after the pandemic once other tennis courts re-open with the high school being a good example as they do not normally play at City of Alameda tennis courts. Staff would wait to convert Court #4 at Washington Park until at least June, after St. Joseph’s season is complete.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost to convert one tennis court to four pickleball courts is $35,000 including crack repair, two coats of acrylic resurfacer, two coats of full color acrylic, striping courts, installing posts and nets, replacing windscreens as needed, and adding a short fence to separate the court from the tennis courts. Funding is available and identified within existing Recreation and Parks budgets.
RECOMMENDATION
To discuss and authorize staff to convert one tennis court to four pickleball courts at Washington Park.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Washington Park Court #4 Location