About two years ago representatives of the Marguerite Tennis Club petitioned the Council to add one more tennis court to its seven existing courts. Club members explained an even number of courts would facilitate tournament events (and league play, per reader comment below).
The Marguerite Tennis Center Renovation Project now includes the replacement of the existing seven tennis courts lighting fixtures, wiring and conduit. It also includes the renovation of the existing 1,000 square foot clubhouse building and the addition of 1,000 more square feet for more meeting room area, serving counter area and larger ADA-compliant restroom areas. The project will also include site grading, paving, landscaping and additional electrical site utilities for adding additional parking, relocating existing parking, adding one lighted tennis court and two lighted outdoor basketball courts. The costs, including design services, construction management services, related services and construction costs, were projected at $2,660,000 during the preparation of the FY 2007-2009 budget. The most recent preliminary schematic cost projections for these items total $3,720,000.
At the present time, as a result of the June 30 budget action by the Council, $440,000 is allocated for design work. Funding for an additional $3,280,000 of estimated project costs will need to be identified. Due to flattened city revenues, the Council will be considering tapping city reserves to maintain Capital Improvement projects.
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Good information, but not entirely accurate. The additional court is not just for tournaments, it is primarily for league play, which occurs almost daily at the Tennis Center. Each league requires the use of four courts at one time. With seven courts, we can only facilitate one league at a time. With the addition of just one court, we can facilitate two leagues at a time, doubling the capacity of the tennis center. The tennis center currently has only 2 toilets, one for men and one for women. It is inadequate when there are as many as thirty-two league players there at one time. Like our thirty-five year old homes, the tennis center is a valuable city asset and is due for some updating and improvements.
Fundamentally we are back to the issue that the city administration can not plan and administer a project without it getting out of hand. Change orders to accommodate every wish will be made.
A single concrete court has turned into a multi-million dollar project. Like the Murray Center and other recent projects, oversight may be lacking.