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Home My WebLink About011321 - 4.2 4.2 PARKS, RECREATION AND ARTS COMMISSION STAFF REPORT TO: Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission January 13, 2021 SUBJECT: Review Tennis Court Usage and Options for Pickleball Courts in the Town of Danville and Provide Staff with a Recommendation for Action BACKGROUND: The Danville Parks, Recreation & Arts Strategic Plan Update (Plan) was adopted by the Town in 2017. The Plan “establishes a long-range vision and course of action for creating and sustaining a high quality, interconnected system of parks, recreation and arts facilities, services and programs.” The Plan includes several strategic recommendations for how to provide inclusive recreational opportunities for users of all ages. This includes supporting emerging recreation activities to address trends and increase the variety of recreational opportunities available to the community. Pickleball is an example of one such activity. Pickleball was determined to be a priority recommendation for the Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission (Commission). Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. Two, three, or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, similar to a whiffle ball, over a net. The sport shares features of other racquet sports, the dimensions and layout of a badminton court, and a net and rules similar to tennis. Pickleball was invented in the mid-1960s as a children's backyard pastime but has become popular among adults as well. In many cities throughout the country and state, pickleball courts and games continue to grow in popularity. Pickleball programming was introduced in Danville through several pop-up events presented by the Recreation, Arts and Community Services staff at a variety of park locations in the Town. Events were held indoors at the Los Cerros Gym as well as outdoors at the basketball courts at Danville South and Sycamore Valley Parks, and at the tennis courts at both Osage Station and Diablo Vista Parks. The goal was to not only introduce the sport but to also show the versatility as to locations where it can be played. At the November 12, 2020 Commission meeting, Danville resident Ben Crockett provided a presentation regarding pickleball with a request to consider the restriping and addition of pickleball courts in the Town of Danville. The Commission also received public comment both in support of, and with concerns of, loss of usage to the tennis community. At that meeting, the Commission requested staff provide information regarding the usage of current tennis courts and potential options for pickleball courts in Danville. DISCUSSION Upon receiving request from the Commission, staff began collecting information of tennis court usage in the Town and researching the feasibility and options of adding outdoor pickleball courts in Danville. The following information represents reservations and usage for the 2019 calendar year. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 calendar year reservations and usage would not represent typical usage. Court Usage Diablo Vista Park contains two lighted tennis courts; generally, one court is reservable and one is available for community walk-on use. The only exception would be when Town programming takes place on both courts. In 2019, there were 594 reservations made, totaling just over 1,166 hours of use. This includes use for Town programs, Commercial Renters and Private renters. • Town Programs o 142 reservations, 166 hours reserved • Commercial Renters o 432 reservations, 976 hours reserved • Private Renters/Residents o 20 reservations, 24.5 Hours reserved These courts are primarily reserved by Commercial renters and Town tennis programs. Commercial renters are those businesses who rent the courts to provide group or private lessons to their clients. Town tennis programs consist of camps, group and private lessons. Diablo Vista also sees a large amount of walk-on use that is not scheduled or reserved. Osage Station Park contains four tennis courts; generally, three courts are reservable and one is available for community walk-on use. In 2019, there were 976 reservations made, totaling just over 1,644 hours of use. This includes use for Town programs, Tennis League Play, Commercial Renters, Non-Profit Renters, Private Renters and Court Maintenance. • Town Programs o 500 reservations, 502 hours reserved • Tennis League Play o 191 reservation, 402 hours reserved • Commercial Renters o 188 reservations, 362.75 hours reserved • Non-Profit Renters o 68 reservations, 276 hours reserved • Private Renters/Residents o 5 reservations, 6 hours reserved • Court Maintenance o 24 reservations, 96 hours reserved These courts are primarily reserved by Town tennis programs, league play and commercial renters. League play consists of local tennis leagues scheduling their seasons and playoffs for their members. Monte Vista High School contains eight tennis courts (4 lighted courts); generally, six courts are reservable and two are available for community walk-on use. These courts are jointly owned with the School District. Town oversees reservations for the District at this site. For security purposes, these courts are closed to public use when school is in session. In 2019, there were 903 reservations made, totaling just over 2,112 hours of use. This includes use for Monte Vista High School, Town programs, Tennis League Play, Commercial Renters, Non-Profit Renters and Private Renters. • Monte Vista High School o 166 reservations, 492 hours reserved • Town Programs o 100 reservations, 300 hours reserved • Tennis League Play o 437 reservation, 871.25 hours reserved • Commercial Renters o 99 reservations, 185 hours reserved • Non-Profit Renters o 84 reservations, 247.5 hours reserved • Private Renters/Residents o 17 reservations, 17 hours reserved These courts are primarily used and reserved by school programs, league play and Town programs. High School usage consists of school day instruction, school district-run programs and the tennis team. Along with joint ownership, this site also has two different fee structures, one set by the School District, and one by the Town. San Ramon Valley High School contains eight lighted tennis courts; generally, six courts are reservable and two are available for community walk-on use. The Town oversees reservations for the District yet does not schedule programming at this site. For security purposes, these courts are closed to public use when school is in session. In 2019, there were 298 reservations made totaling just over 763 hours of use. This includes use for San Ramon Valley High School, Tennis League Play, Commercial Renters, and Non-Profit Renters. • San Ramon Valley High School o 40 reservations, 136 hours reserved • Tennis League Play o 46 reservation, 46 hours reserved • Commercial Renters o 209 reservations, 520.5 hours reserved • Non-Profit Renters o 26 reservations, 61 hours reserved These courts are primarily used and reserved by school programs, Commercial renters, and League play. Pickleball Options Per the court usage and joint use agreements, the following options do not take into consideration the possible conversion of courts located at any School District properties; the Town has only six tennis courts outside of the School District courts. Consideration for potential future pickleball courts will only be for Town-owned properties. For reference, the dimensions of a tennis court are 78 feet by 36 feet, with approximately 2 feet on each side of the court where the tennis net is anchored into the pole sleeves. The dimensions of a pickleball court are 44 feet by 20 feet. Option 1 – Pickleball Overlay Move forward in creating multi-use tennis/pickleball courts by adding pickleball lines to existing courts. Overlays over the existing tennis courts would potentially provide one to four courts for pickleball use. This option would cost approximately $2,000-3,000. Option 2 -One Tennis Court Conversion Convert one tennis court into exclusive pickleball court. Removal of one of the existing tennis courts would potentially provide four dedicated pickleball courts for use. This option would cost approximately $15,000-20,000. Option 3 – Other Locations Research other locations within parks that may be able to be converted into pickleball courts, such as an underutilized grass area or sand volleyball court. This option would cost approximately $75,000-100,000. Option 4 – No Locations Do not move forward in adding any outdoor pickleball courts in Danville at this time. NEXT STEPS Staff requests a recommendation for further action regarding outdoor pickleball courts within the Town. Based on the recommendation from the Commission, staff will develop a more detailed report for consideration and action by the Commission. RECOMMENDATION Review Tennis Court usage and options for outdoor pickleball courts in the Town of Danville and provide staff with a recommendation for action. Prepared by: Henry Perezalonso Recreation, Arts & Community Services Director