An estimated price tag of more than $281,000 to convert the tennis court area at Northwest Park to six pickleball courts was presented to the Carroll City Council and residents during a public hearing at their regularly-scheduled meeting Monday night. This estimate, however, does not include some associated design costs, and Director of Parks and Recreation, Jack Wardell, says those could be in the $20,000 range. The proposal is to overlay the current courts with post-tension concrete, a process that helps reduce the likelihood that minor cracks would become larger, uneven fissures. Three Carroll residents provided their input during the public hearing. Glenn Babb says he has no issue with the proposal to create the pickleball courts, just the cost.
Babb adds there are a lot of things he would like to have in this community, but he wouldn’t feel comfortable asking for it without some kind of public buy-in. He also suggested that, once built, perhaps the courts could be used to raise money to fund upkeep and future repairs through tournaments and the like. Jeff Cayler was at the first meeting when there was a $100,000 estimate that is now over $300,000. He asked the council to give this project more thought and more time.
He too cited public/private partnerships that resulted in the basketball courts in Northeast Park. Marcia Tiefenthaler has been a vocal public proponent for the court upgrades, and says people of all ages really enjoy this sport. Carroll Mayor, Dr. Eric Jensen, says no one is disputing that, but again, most of the pushback the council and city staff is hearing from residents has to do with the cost and the expectation that the city should foot the entire bill.
It was suggested that the pickleball players join forces and do some fundraising, which will also help them showcase public support as a basis for application for grants. This can then come back to the city for review as last dollars in. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the council approved the resolution, adopting the plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of costs on a vote of five in favor and one, Mike Kots, against. They will be sending the project out to bid and then bringing the discussion back at a later date. Full audio of that discussion can be found below.
Pickleball Courts Northwest Park 08-27-18
