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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.2 PARKS, RECREATION AND ARTS COMMISSION STAFF REPORT 4.2 TO: Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission July 13, 2022 SUBJECT: Review Options for Additional Pickleball Courts 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 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 January 13, 2021 Commission meeting, the staff provided a report which included information regarding tennis court reservation usage in the Town and the feasibility of options for adding outdoor pickleball courts in Danville. The options discussed by the Commission included: • Option 1 - a pickleball overlay, creating multi-use tennis/pickleball courts by adding pickleball lines to existing tennis courts; • Option 2 - converting one tennis court into exclusive pickleball courts; • Option 3 - researching other locations within parks that may be able to be converted into pickleball courts; and, • Option 4 - not moving forward with any pickleball courts. After discussing tennis court usage, pickleball options, and hearing public comments, the Commission recommended that staff move forward with Option 2 at Osage Station Park by converting one tennis court into four dedicated pickleball courts by spring or summer of 2021. They also recommended Option 1 as a backup if timing and funding were not lining up to be executed in a timely fashion. (Attachment A) At its February 10, 2021 meeting, the Commission provided its final approval to move forward with the conversion project, which was completed in April 2021 (Attachment B). This resulted in the Town’s first two pickleball courts. As expected, the courts have proven to be extremely popular, particularly during the morning hours, and there appears to be more than enough demand to warrant adding additional courts. DISCUSSION Knowing that pickleball is a priority recommendation for the Commission and the substantial use the two courts at Osage Station Park receive, staff has performed preliminary site analysis to determine where adding courts may be feasible. Below is a summary of various locations that could be suitable options. Danville South Park Based on the small size and configuration of the park, the only viable option at this site is likely the existing basketball court. Due to its substandard size, the basketball court at Danville South Park provides enough space for only one pickleball court. Conversion of this basketball court to pickleball would reduce the Town’s inventory to three. Diablo Vista Park While reviewing potential pickleball locations in early 2021, the Commission expressed a desire to keep the tennis courts at Diablo Vista Park, as well as noting that the existing courts are not optimal for pickleball from an accessibility standpoint due to their distance from the parking lot and restrooms. Other potential locations for new pickleball courts at the park would be the existing basketball and/or sand volleyball courts. The basketball court would provide enough space for two pickleball courts, while the sand volleyball court has enough space for four courts. Converting one or both of these areas to pickleball would reduce the Town’s number of basketball courts to three and/or sand volleyball courts to two. Osage Station Park Following the court conversion last year, the current facility has three tennis courts and two pickleball courts. Potential opportunities to expand the facility exist both to the west and east of the existing courts, as shown below. Expanding to the west, towards the parking lot, could allow for the facility to have a total of three tennis courts and 10 pickleball courts. This area is currently underutilized and consists of a grass knoll and trees. Expanding to the east, while still leaving enough of the grass for the youth athletic leagues that currently use this area, could provide enough space for three tennis courts and 12 pickleball courts. Alternatively, merging the two options and expanding in both directions could result in four tennis courts and 14 pickleball courts. Sycamore Valley Park Locations with enough space to accommodate the installation of pickleball courts include the grass area between the pond and playground (room for eight pickleball courts), and the basketball courts (six pickleball courts). However, the grass area presents similar accessibility issues as Diablo Vista Park, with both parking and restrooms being a relatively long distance away. Additionally, the grass area is the only real open, recreational space within the park. Opting to convert the basketball courts, which continue to receive considerable use, would reduce the Town’s inventory to two. Other Locations Locations that were excluded from the potential options include Oak Hill and Hap Magee Ranch Parks, which are passive parks and have historically not been considered appropriate sites for sporting facilities, and the San Ramon Valley and Monte Vista High School tennis courts, as access is restricted for large portions of the day. NEXT STEPS Staff requests a recommendation for further action regarding adding more pickleball courts within the Town. Based on the site(s) chosen, if one is to be chosen, staff will perform more extensive site studies in preparation for the project and return to the Commission if any pertinent information were to arise from this process. Funding has been appropriated for pickleball expansion as part of the 2022/23 Capital Improvement Program and, based on current estimates, the funding should be sufficient for whichever option the Commission may choose. RECOMMENDATION Review Options for Additional Pickleball courts and provide Staff with a recommendation for action. Prepared and Reviewed by: Dave Casteel Maintenance Services Director Attachments: A – January 2021 Staff Report and Summary of Actions B – February 2021 Staff Report and Summary of Actions