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March 5, 2024 Redondo Beach City Council Meeting
Addressing Item N1: Discussion and Possible Action on Improvements Aviation Park and the Potential for Additional Recreation Amenities Good evening to the City Council and the attendees for this meeting:
My name is Dallas Poffenroth. I am a Redondo Beach resident, a Registered Nurse, and a US Pickleball Association Ambassador. The Pickleball enthusiasts of Redondo Beach have been actively advocating for shared use Pickleball courts or newly constructed courts since 2017. It is now 2024, with only a shared conversion of basketball surfaces in 3 Redondo Beach City parks.
These temporary conversions are simply not acceptable court surfaces for Pickleball. These psuedo surfaces lack leveling in most directions. The " courts" ( using the term loosely) have minimal or no proper fencing. Surface cracking and other damage is already visible at several locations, creating increased risk for player injury. Additionally, players must provide their own nets for each outing. A skateboard ramp parallels the courts at Perry Park. Young children are often playing or running close to the unfenced " court" area. Dedicated parking is minimal to none at most of the parks; especially on street cleaning days.
To date Aviation Park has been identified as ultimately the best Redondo Beach resource for a multicourt Pickleball facility. It is recognized that this sort of project will take time and allocated funding. However, return on investment would be manifested through fees to play and intermittent tournaments. To date Redondo Beach pickleball players feel they have not been respected by City Council in providing any regulation courts. As resident tax payors, they have requested previously, and are again requesting dual usage of the Alta Vista Park tennis facility.
Hirsch & Associates were hired ( at tax payor expense) in 2021 to evaluate many park areas in Redondo Beach for appropriate shared use or construction of new courts. Alta Vista Park was identified as the best location to start this project. I am quoting from an Administrative Report dated May 3, 2022: " This location is ideal for the conversion of Pickleball courts as it would benefit from the existing sport court infrastructure, and lighting of the tennis court facility would also result in cost savings and a shortened installation time". Dedicated parking was determined to lessen the impact on the surrounding community. The costs for dual use conversion of 2 tennis courts could be done quickly; serving many players at one location.
Smaller parks were determined to have more issues with regards to appropriate space, parking, cost factors and residential concerns. Additionally, Hirsch & Associates also reviewed some court usage data that demonstrated Alta Vista courts as " not used to capacity". My recent collaboration with Desiree & David Galassi to collect and review current Recreation & Parks data reaffirmed this statement.
March 5, 2024 Redondo Beach City Council Meeting
Addressing Item N1: ( continued)
Surrounding beach cities have stepped up to the plate, and have for some time provided dual striped Pickleball/ tennis courts with conversion of some courts to Pickleball. Manhattan Beach has additionally partnered with their school board to provide weekend open play to all Pickleball players at a recently constructed Pickleball venue.
Pickleball is identified universally to cross section all ages. It supports spontaneous social interaction and physical activity, clearly emphasized as promoting healthy lifestyles that patently important for coping with life' s stressors. Thank you for thoughtfully considering the data, the issues and the solutions presented this evening.