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HomeMy WebLinkAbout161-12 RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION NO. 161-12 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF RENOVATION SERVICES TO TENNIS COURTS AT WILSON PARK BY THE UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION AS PART OF ITS TWO COURT RENOVATION GRANT PROGRAM AT NO COST TO THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby authorizes acceptance of renovation services to tennis courts at Wilson Park by the United States Tennis Association as part if its Two -Court Renovation Grant Program at no cost to the City of Fayetteville. PASSED and APPROVED this 7th day of August, 2012. APPROVED: ATTEST: c By: ELD JOR ayor By: Di4117-14.44,st' RA E. SMITH City y Clerk/Treasurer Chase Gipson Submitted By City of Fayetteville Staff Review Form City Council Agenda Items and Contracts, Leases or Agreements 8/7/2012 City Council Meeting Date Agenda Items Only Recreation Programs Division Action Required: Parks and Recreation Department Staff is requesting approval to accept a Wilson tennis court renovation from the United States Tennis Association, as part of their Two -Court Renovation Grant Program. The USTA will pay a contractor up to $11,500 for the renovation of two tennis courts at Wilson Park. Cost of this request Account Number Project Number Budgeted Item I-1 $ Category / Project Budget Program Category / Project Name Funds Used to Date Program / Project Category Name Remaining Balance Fund Name Budget Adjustment Attached Depart Dir �ii 4 . — orney ck Finance and Internal Services Director Date Date Date Previous Ordinance or Resolution # Original Contract Date: Original Contract Number: Received in dit-.4 Clerk's Office We? Received in Mayor's Office Comments: Revised January 15, 2009 THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 P (479) 444-3471 F (479) 521-7714 ARKANSAS www.accessfayettevilie.org To: Lioneld Jordan, Mayor Thru: Don Marr, Chief of Staff Connie Edmonston, Parks and Recreation Director 6 6 From: Chase Gipson, Recreation Superintendent 0" Date: July 17, 2012 Re: Approval of a United States Tennis Association Grant for renovation of two Wilson Park tennis courts. As part of the grant, one of the courts will be converted into four youth courts. PROPOSAL: Fayetteville Parks and Recreation has been presented with a wonderful opportunity for much needed renovations to the Wilson Park Tennis courts. The USTA has offered a "two -court" grant renovation project, in the amount of $10,000 and no match is required from the city. In addition, the Arkansas State Tennis Association has a resurfacing grant that can also be used towards the total costs of the project, should it exceed $10,000. Although Wilson is a six court facility, staff received special permission for the lower two courts on the west side to be considered a separate two court facility. The two lower courts at Wilson are very much in need of resurfacing, as shown in the attached pictures. The United States Tennis Association has made a huge push over the last few years to get more youth involved in tennis. Parks staff and the Parks Board agree that more kids being outside and being active is a good thing. A big part of the USTA push is the decision that children agesl0 and under no longer play tennis on full-sized courts. Tennis lagged behind other sports (soccer, basketball, football, baseball) in realizing that children need a space designed for children. The only current opportunities that exist in Fayetteville for youth tennis players, are for those whose families can afford memberships to private clubs. Middle to low income children have no place to play and no groups to play with. The construction of these courts would be a giant step in the right direction to help correct this problem. Previous grant recipients have reported to the LISTA that these smaller courts have also proved to be popular with senior citizens as well. Parks summer staff conducted separate observations in 2009 and 2012, where they recorded the number of participants and the number of courts being used in two-hour intervals. Both observations show the six courts at Wilson are rarely all in use at the same time. In addition, it has been the observation of Parks staff that all six courts are rarely full, with the exception of 3-6pm during the high school tennis season. The high school has recently constructed new tennis courts and will no longer be using Wilson, so this overcrowding problem should be remedied. The City of Fayetteville is in need of additional tennis courts for all ages, and has plans to build 8 tennis courts at the Regional Park facility. This grant is a great opportunity to address the lack of youth tennis opportunities in the area, while also putting a brand new surface on one of our adult courts, which is currently in need of repair. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf TDD (479) 521-1316 113 West Mountain - Fayetteville, AR 72701 THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS RECOMMENDATION: Parks staff is recommending for the City to accept the USTA grant, and State Resurfacing Grant to renovate two tennis courts at Wilson Park. On July 2 the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted unanimously, after a lengthy discussion including concerned citizens, in favor of accepting the grant. BUDGET IMPACT: There is no impact on our budget. Bids are currently being received by the USTA for the project. The USTA will pay the contractor directly and anticipates, based on previous similar projects, that the grants will fund the entire project. ATTACHMENTS: Staff Review Form Parks and Recreation Advisory Board July 2 meeting minutes Pictures of Wilson Park Tennis Courts to be renovated Before and after pictures of two -court renovation in Milam Park, Clarkston, GA Telecommunications Device for the Deaf TDD (479) 521-1316 113 West Mountain - Fayetteville, AR 72701 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF RENOVATION SERVICES TO TENNIS COURTS AT WILSON PARK BY THE UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION AS PART OF ITS TWO COURT RENOVATION GRANT PROGRAM AT NO COST TO THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby authorizes acceptance of renovation services to tennis courts at Wilson Park by the United States Tennis Association as part if its Two -Court Renovation Grant Program at no cost to the City of Fayetteville. PASSED and APPROVED this 7th day of August, 2012. APPROVED: ATTEST: By: By: LIONELD JORDAN, Mayor SONDRA E. SMITH, City Clerk/Treasurer �Fay'ereylle FAYETTEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Minutes for July 2, 2012 Opening: The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was called to order by Steve Meldrum at 5:32 p.m. in Room 111 at the City Administration Building at 113 West Mountain Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Present: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members Meldrum, Waite, Watson, Paul, Lawson, McKnight, Proffitt, and Leonard were present. Staff members Edmonston, Humphry, Jones, Gipson, Jumper, and Thomas were in attendance. Wilson Park Tennis Court Proposal: Chase Gipson, Recreation Superintendent Our USIA representative has reached out to Fayetteville Parks and Recreation with a great opportunity. They currently have "two -court" grant renovation projects with funding available for $10,000 (non- matching). It is basically a no -strings attached grant and the project should be within 10% either way of the $10,000 grant money. Worst case scenario, the City may need to come up with $1,500 for the project. Although Wilson is a six court facility, we received special permission for the lower two courts to be considered a separate two court facility. The two lower courts are in need of resurfacing. The grant would convert the two courts into one full size court and four 36 ft courts for youth. This is a major part of the current USTA movement for U10 tennis on 36 foot courts that would open opportunities for youth tennis in Fayetteville. These smaller courts have also proved to be popular with seniors as well. Our summer survey from two years ago shows the six courts are rarely, if ever, all in use at the same time. Staff is recommending for the City to apply for the USTA grant. Please view the attached link to view the tennis court project: http:/ /www.southerntennis.com/u_pload s /TwoCourtProiects 1.ppt 1 Gipson said the USTA approached Parks about a grant opportunity. They have a two -court renovation grant, and Parks got permission to apply for the grant for two courts of a six court facility. The grant project would allow the courts to be resurfaced, which is needed, and would convert the two courts into one full size court and four 36 foot courts that would open opportunities for youth tennis in Fayetteville. Gibson said that an informal count was taken on the number of players in two hour intervals to see how many players there were. A guest said that the numbers were taken during the hottest part of the summer and doesn't reflect from 8 pm to 10 pm. She said that during the day the adults work, so people play early or late. Another guest said that the numbers don't reflect his observation. He said that Wilson Pool is only open two months out of the year, so the Parks numbers don't reflect the other months. He added there are times that it's impossible to get on the courts. During the months from September through May, there are lots of players. He said losing a court doesn't set well with him. He said that one group using the courts told him they had "hoodwinked" the City because they told them they were a group, but they played as individuals. He requested that no courts be taken away. A guest asked why the chosen courts were at Wilson and not Walker. Gipson replied that the courts are in very bad shape at Wilson. A guest said the reason the numbers are low in the count is because people get turned off about playing. He then asked when the high school played. Gipson said they play from 3 pm to 6 pm. A guest said there was a shortage of courts. The article in the paper said the City should have 40 courts by now. That shortage has not been addressed. He said it's a planning issue. Meldrum asked how many courts were planned for the Regional Park. Edmonston said there would be 6 to 8 courts. A guest said that the youth have the courts in the morning for camp. The only times the adults can play is during hot weather. Edmonston said the tennis camp is only one week. 2 The guest said it seems that it's always one week. He suggested that rather sacrifice the courts, Parks could sponsor youth tennis with shorter nets. He asked that courts not be sacrificed for adults so that they have fewer courts. Paul asked if seniors could use the courts. Gipson said yes. Meldrum asked if the adult courts would be resurfaced. Gipson said yes. A guest said that the surface on some courts is a rubberized surface that is very bad and uneven. Edmonston said that is the first time she's heard that complaint. She thanked the guest. A guest said that she sent an email today. She said she's sitting at this meeting feeling she's getting the runaround. She said she is always told that "someday" it will happen, or it's too expensive, or local parks are needed. Tennis courts are never first priority and the situation needs to be addressed. Meldrum asked how much it cost to build a tennis court. Jumper said the last estimate was anywhere from $28,000 to $80,000. A guest suggested a tennis court at Gulley Park. Edmonston said when the neighborhood meeting was held for Gulley Park, the neighbors said they didn't want basketball, tennis, or a community center. Meldrum commented that a lot of money was being talked about. He asked if a court needed to be given up. He said that everyone was tired of waiting for Regional Park. He asked if Parks wanted the grant, and did they want a court resurfaced. Edmonston said that the University of Arkansas was looking for an area for ballfields and tennis courts. Watson said that he has lived in Fayetteville all his life. He said he would never turn away a sport for youth. He said his focus was on the community as a whole. 3 A guest interrupted Watson. Watson asked the guest to let him finish. He continued by saying that he wants to focus on youth, not adults, adding that is his personal opinion. A guest said that the last court was built in 1975. Soccer fields have been added. He said that Parks is behind on tennis courts. Watson said he understood the frustration for the guest. He said Parks is behind on everything, and added that the Regional Park will satisfy needs, but not completely. A guest asked if the youth courts would be permanent. He wondered if any exploration has been done for youth tennis that wouldn't be permanent. Gipson said that the grant is only for permanent courts, so the facility would only be for kids. A guest wanted to know if there was a chance the courts could be reverted back to normal size if they were not used by youth. Another guest said that he played with an 8 year old and was beaten. He added that the Wilson Park gardens are always being worked on by the horticulturists, but the tennis courts are neglected. The cans and bottles are not being picked up. Edmonston said it's like the dog park, because everyone needs to pick up after themselves. A guest asked for Parks to please look at alternatives. Meldrum asked what the time frame was for the grant. Gipson said USTA doesn't want to wait, so Parks has to move on it now. Meldrum said that tabling the motion wasn't an option because of the time frame of USTA. He suggested that PRAB vote on it, and let it go on to Council. McKnight said to go ahead and vote. Watson said that he was appreciative for the public to come to the meeting to voice their opinion. He said he will keep tennis courts in mind. 4 Edmonston said that different communities like different sports. She added that it's hard to have a national standard. Watson said that soccer is played year round. PRAB Motion: Watson motioned to accept the grant, and Lawson seconded it. Motion passed 8-0-0 by voice vote. 5