June 21, 2022
Library and Community Services
DATE: June 21, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
LaShonda White, Interim Director of Library and
Community Services
Ranjana Maharaj, Deputy Director for Community
Services – Recreation
Greg Hardesty, Parks and Landscaping Superintendent
Tetteh Kisseh, Recreation Supervisor
Subject:
Convert the West Side Tennis Court At Booker T.
Anderson to Two Fixed Pickleball Courts
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The project will have no financial impact on the City’s budget. The East Bay Pickleball Association will work in collaboration with the Parks and Landscaping Division to convert this court and will pay for the conversion through grant funds they have received.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
July 27, 2021
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
On July 27, 2021, City Council approved the installation of six temporary pickleball courts at the Booker T.
Anderson tennis courts. The Recreation Division and the Parks and Landscaping Division are now seeking City
Council approval to convert the west side tennis court to two permanent pickleball courts.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE the conversion of one tennis court at the
Booker T. Anderson tennis courts to two permanent
pickleball courts – Library and Community Services
Department/Public Works Department (Ranjana
Maharaj/Tetteh Kisseh/Greg Hardesty 510-620-6919).
AGENDA
REPORT
June 21, 2022
DISCUSSION:
On July 14, 2021, the Recreation and Parks Commission (Commission) approved a request from City staff to convert the Booker T. Anderson (BTA) tennis courts into a multi-use facility by superimposing temporary lines to allow pickleball to be played on the tennis courts. This request came from the East Bay Pickleball Association (EBPA) and was approved by the Southside Plus One Neighborhood Group (neighborhood council). On July 27, 2021, this item was approved by City Council (Attachment 1).
On December 2, 2021, Darlene Drapkin, a representative from the East Bay Pickleball Association, provided an update to the Commission about the pickleball program and requested the Commission approve conversion of two of the pickleball courts at BTA to permanent pickleball courts. City staff indicated at that meeting that this proposal would first need to be approved by the neighborhood council and would then be brought back to the Commission for their approval prior to acquiring City Council approval.
On February 23, 2022, City staff presented this request to the neighborhood council, and the neighborhood council conditionally approved this request provided that the permanent pickleball courts be located closer to the play structure (west side) of the BTA tennis courts. On February 28, 2022, a follow up meeting was scheduled with the neighborhood council and the Parks Division staff. It was confirmed at this meeting that permanent courts could be installed closer to the west side of the courts. Parks staff also agreed to create an additional gate on the west end of the courts for easy access for pickleball participants. A gate has since been installed.
Initial concerns were raised about west side placement of the pickleball courts by Ms.
Drapkin, and on behalf of the EBPA, a request was made for the permanent courts to be placed on the east side of the BTA tennis courts. During March and April 2022, City staff continued conversations with the neighborhood council, EBPA, and the Commission about permanent placement of the pickleball courts (Attachment 2). Both sides had valid points to substantiate their preferences; however, after further discussion and in an effort to move forward, the representative from the EBPA agreed to placement of the permanent pickleball courts on the west side of the BTA tennis courts. On April 20, 2022, the Commission unanimously approved the placement of the permanent fixed pickleball courts on the west side of the BTA tennis courts (Attachments 3 and 4).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – 2021-7-27(mins)-City Council approval-Item I-22 Pickleball lines at BTA Attachment 2 – 2022-4-6(mins)Recreation and Parks Commission Attachment 3 – 2022-4-20 – Minutes and Public Comments - Recreation and Parks Commission Special Meeting
Attachment 4 – Diagrams of Tennis Court with proposed permanent Pickleball lines