Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan (2024)
2024
Boulder Tennis and Pickleball
Court System Plan
Boulder Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan
i
Acknowledgements
Land Acknowledgment
Indigenous Peoples have traversed, lived in, and stewarded lands in the Boulder Valley since time
immemorial. Those Indigenous Nations include the: Di De’i (Apache), Hinono’eiteen (Arapaho),
Tsétsėhéstȧhese (Cheyenne), Nʉmʉnʉʉ (Comanche), Caiugu (Kiowa), Čariks i Čariks (Pawnee), Sosonih
(Shoshone), Oc'eti S'akowin (Sioux) and Núuchiu (Ute). *
We honor and respect the people of these Nations and their ancestors. We recognize that Indigenous
knowledge, oral histories, and languages handed down through generations have shaped profound
cultural and spiritual connections with Boulder-area lands and ecosystems - connections that are sustained
and celebrated to this day. The City of Boulder recognizes that those now living on these ancestral lands
have a responsibility to acknowledge and address the past and must work to build a more just future.
Read the City of Boulder’s staff land acknowledgement- which is based on the city’s Indigenous Peoples
Day Resolution, community input and guidance from American Indian Tribal Nations – at:
//BoulderColorado.gov/projects/staff-land-acknowledgment. Staff recognize that this acknowledgement
will continue to evolve as we work to understand and address the legacy of the violent colonization of
Indigenous lands.
*Names are based on discussions with Tribal Nation Representatives from June 2021 through May 2023.
Boulder Community
A special thanks to all the community members who shared their thoughts and suggestions related to
Boulder Parks and Recreation Tennis and Pickleball Courts.
Organization Stakeholders
Thanks to Boulder Tennis Association (BTA) and BoCo Pickleball representatives who met regularly with staff
to review key parts of this plan and offer feedback based on their experiences.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Elliott Hood, Chair
Andrew "Bernie" Bernstein, Vice Chair and PRAB project Liasion
Waylon Lewis
Eric Raffini
Jennifer Robins
Anna Segur
Sarah “Sunny” van der Star
Past PRAB members: Chuck Brock, Jason Unger
BPR Core Team
Charlotte O’Donnell, City Planner (Project Manager)
Tina Briggs, Senior Landscape Architect (Project Co-Sponsor)
Mark Davison, Planning Manager (Project Co-Sponsor)
Alison Rhodes, Director
Scott Schuttenberg, Deputy Director
BPR Contributing Staff
Gabriel Askamit
Bryan Beary
Connor Bulger
Matt Gazdik
Jackson Hite
Maxen Jones
Megann Lohman
Matt Pilger
Deryn Wagner
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................. 1
1.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 PROJECT PURPOSE AND GOAL .................................................................................................... 1
1.3 NEEDS ASSESSMENT KEY FINDINGS ............................................................................................. 3
1.4 KEY RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................................ 4
CHAPTER TWO – COURT SYSTEM OVERVIEW ......................................................................................... 5
2.1 CURRENT COURT LOCATIONS AND INVENTORY ......................................................................... 5
2.2 PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ......................................................................................................... 6
2.3 OUTDOOR COURT UTILIZATION – 2022 ........................................................................................ 7
2.4 OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................. 8
CHAPTER THREE - MARKET ANALYSIS ................................................................................................... 10
3.1 DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................... 10
3.2 COURT PROVIDER ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................... 10
3.3 NATIONAL PICKLEBALL TREND ANALYSIS .................................................................................. 14
3.4 NATIONAL TENNIS TREND ANALYSIS.......................................................................................... 15
3.5 BENCHMARKING ........................................................................................................................ 17
CHAPTER FOUR - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ................................................................................... 19
4.1 ENGAGEMENT WINDOW ONE ................................................................................................... 19
4.2 ENGAGEMENT WINDOW TWO ................................................................................................... 20
CHAPTER FIVE - LEVEL OF SERVICE STANDARDS ................................................................................. 22
5.1 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................................... 22
5.2 CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE - 2024 ........................................................................................... 23
5.3 LEVEL OF SERVICE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................... 23
CHAPTER SIX - FACILITY ASSESSMENTS ............................................................................................... 25
6.1 GENERAL CONDITION ASSESSMENT - SUMMARY ..................................................................... 25
CHAPTER SEVEN – SITE SPECIFIC CONCEPT DIAGRAM DEVELOPMENT ............................................. 26
7.1 SITE CRITERIA FOR POTENTIAL EXPANSION ............................................................................... 26
7.2 SITE SUITIBILITY CRITERIA EVALUATION ...................................................................................... 26
7.3 DETAILED EXISTING CONDITIONS ANALYSIS ............................................................................. 27
7.4 CONCEPT DIAGRAMS – PRIORITY SITES .................................................................................... 36
7.5 IMPACT OF PRIORITY SITE CONCEPT DIAGRAMS ON LEVEL OF SERVICE GOAL .................... 41
7.6 CONCEPT DIAGRAMS – OTHER SITES ........................................................................................ 41
7.7 COURT SYSTEM MAP ................................................................................................................... 46
CHAPTER EIGHT - COST ESTIMATING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ................................................ 47
8.1 RECOMMENDED SIX-YEAR CIP FOR EXISTING COURTS ........................................................... 48
8.2 RECOMMENDED SIX-YEAR CIP FOR NEW DEDICATED COURTS ............................................... 48
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CHAPTER NINE – INDOOR RACQUET FACILITY – VISION ALTERNATIVE .......................................... 50
9.1 CITY OWNED AND OPERATED INDOOR RACQUET FACILITY METHOD .................................... 51
9.2 PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP METHOD ................................................................................... 52
9.3 GROUND LEASE & MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT METHOD ........................................................ 52
9.4 NEXT STEP RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................... 53
CHAPTER TEN - OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS .................................. 56
10.1 OPERATIONAL STANDARDS...................................................................................................... 56
10.2 OPERATING HOUR ASSUMPTIONS ........................................................................................... 56
10.3 COURT MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................ 56
10.4 COURT UTILIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................. 58
10.5 PROJECTION OF FUTURE ANNUAL COURT UTILIZATION .......................................................... 59
10.6 INDIVIDUAL RESERVATION PROCESS RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................. 60
10.7 ADVANCE GROUP RENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................. 61
10.8 PRICING OF TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL COURT RESERVATIONS .............................................. 62
CHAPTER ELEVEN - CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 64
11.1 LEVEL OF SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................ 64
11.2 OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................... 64
11.3 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................... 65
11.4 IMPLEMENTATION ..................................................................................................................... 66
APPENDIX A – COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WINDOW 1
APPENDIX B – COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WINDOW 2
APPENDIX C – INDOOR FACILITY CASE STUDY
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CHAPTER ONE - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The City of Boulder is a growing and dynamic community with an estimated population of 108,000
residents (including University of Colorado Boulder students). The community is proud of its world-class
parks and recreation system that matches Boulder’s national reputation for fitness, health, and
recreation.
The Boulder Parks and Recreation Department (BPR) manages and operates a range of parks and
recreation facilities and offers recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.
One aspect of BPR’s offerings is its tennis and pickleball court system. The system consists of twenty-
eight (28) outdoor courts (with limited indoor pickleball at BPR’s recreation centers) and provides a wide
variety of programming and reservation services aimed at meeting the tennis and pickleball needs of the
community.
1.2 PROJECT PURPOSE AND GOAL
The purpose of the Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan is to acknowledge and explore the growing
demand for both pickleball and tennis in the community. In addition, the plan acknowledges the changing
court supply in Boulder including the closure of two private tennis facilities: the Rocky Mountain Tennis
Center (15 outdoor courts and five indoor courts during the winter via a sports bubble) and pending
redevelopment of CU Boulder South Campus Tennis Courts (12 courts).
Community representatives of each sport have shown a strong desire for additional dedicated courts and
a higher level of service than included in the 2022 Boulder Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2022 BPR
Department Plan).
As directed by the 2022 BPR Department Plan, BPR has developed the Court System Plan to analyze and
evaluate the city’s tennis and pickleball court system.
This includes the number of courts, use type for each court (shared or dedicated), capital investment,
management, and programming. The plan provides a balanced approach and identifies priorities for the
next ten years.
The three primary outcomes of the plan are to:
• Develop short-term actions about how the department manages and invests in BPR’s current
courts.
• Inform long-range investment opportunities in BPR’s court system.
• Define if and how BPR may play a role in a potential indoor facility.
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1.2.1 PROJECT PROCESS – A BLENDED APPROACH
The planning process for the court system plan utilized a blended
approach that included policy direction, research, and community
engagement. This approach was established in the 2014 BPR
Department Plan and uses quantitative and qualitative data to
determine recommendations. The approach was updated for the
2022 BPR Department Plan and is the foundation for all BPR planning
processes.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Engaging community members in a variety of ways throughout the
planning process ensured that their voices were heard and
considered in formulating BPR’s strategic direction for the tennis and
pickleball court system. Engagement was considered the Consult Level, based on the City of Boulder’s
Engagement Strategic Framework. This means that the city kept community members informed, listened
to and provided acknowledgement of their concerns and aspirations and shared feedback on how public
input influenced decisions.
The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) provided input at major milestones throughout the
planning process. PRAB feedback was critical to successfully combining public feedback and research
into meaningful recommendations that are in-line with city policies. As the council’s appointed
community representatives for parks and recreation matters, the PRAB’s guidance was critical for
ensuring the 2024 Court System Plan reflects community needs.
RESEARCH
Research was a key component of this planning effort. BPR knows the Boulder community expects data-
driven decision making and works to ensure this is a foundation of the department’s work. For this
project, research included reviewing relevant plans and reports, conducting a community survey,
reviewing national and regional trends, conducting a facilities assessment, developing opportunities for
court system expansion, and completing operational and financial analyses.
POLICY GUIDANCE
Building off the City of Boulder’s values and the 2022 BPR Department Plan, this project integrates the
citywide vision, values, and goals to set the bar high for design excellence, climate consciousness,
resilience, and diversity inclusion. Below are links to the BPR and citywide goals that guide this project
and all city efforts.
• 2022 BPR Department Plan - Parks and Recreation Department Plan Update | City of Boulder
(bouldercolorado.gov).
• City of Boulder’s Values - Our City Culture | City of Boulder (bouldercolorado.gov).
• City of Boulder’s Racial Equity Plan - Racial Equity | City of Boulder (bouldercolorado.gov).
• City of Boulder’s Climate Initiatives - The Future of Climate Action | City of Boulder
(bouldercolorado.gov).
• City of Boulder Sustainability, Equity and Resilience Framework - 2023 Sustainability, Equity and
Resilience Framework Update | City of Boulder (bouldercolorado.gov).
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PROJECT SCHEDULE
The development of the BPR Court System Plan followed a logical planning path and schedule as
illustrated below:
1.2.2 ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN
The planning process for the Court System Plan was completed with City of Boulder staff and included:
• Planning Analysis: Data Collection, Research, and Needs Assessment.
• Planning Evaluation: Best Practices, Industry Standards, and Market Analysis.
• Develop Concept Alternatives for Physical Courts and Programming with Cost.
• Funding and Operating Alternatives / Recommendations.
The data collected from the staff and onsite assessments allowed the consulting team to identify key
factors, issues, and concerns regarding the current tennis and pickleball court system and how BPR
manages operations.
1.3 NEEDS ASSESSMENT KEY FINDINGS
For BPR, it is critical to understand the court needs of the community to provide offerings that are
focused on a mix of traditional and emerging activities and to serve the market while maintaining
affordability.
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Each need that has been identified will support the investment in the court system. These need-based
priorities are a result of both qualitative and quantitative analyses.
Summary
*Create a court delivery system that is accessible, sustainable, and resilient.
*Maximize utilization of existing courts by updating the court reservation processes.
*Increase the number of tennis and pickleball courts in the system.
*Create dedicated courts for each sport (tennis and pickleball).
*Utilize best practice design standards to redevelop existing courts and build new courts.
*Enhance the playability of indoor pickleball at BPR’s recreation center gymnasiums.
*Consider a public-public or public-private partnership to develop indoor racquet and pickleball courts.
1.4 KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
Boulder continues to develop as a community comprised of healthy-minded, physically active citizens
who love tennis and pickleball. This evolution and unprecedented growth in pickleball and tennis
participation creates an overarching need for BPR to renovate existing courts while adding new ones.
The following key recommendations should serve as the guide for improving the tennis and pickleball
court system for the next five to ten years.
• All plans for courts should follow City of Boulder's Community Sustainability, Equity and
Resilience Framework and the 2022 BPR Department Plan to best serve the community.
• BPR should continue the asset management approach by investing $400K per year over the next
six years to improve playability of existing courts and reduce long-term maintenance costs.
• BPR should develop additional outdoor courts as funding and capacity allow. The recommended
additions are: 22 additional dedicated tennis courts and 22 dedicated pickleball courts.
• BPR should explore potential partnerships to better understand indoor facility opportunities. For
example, BPR will continue to determine feasibility of temporary indoor facility with
construction at East Boulder Community Park in 2025 and long-term opportunities as part of the
Future of Recreation Centers project.
• BPR should pursue programming, reservation, and maintenance improvements.
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CHAPTER TWO – COURT SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The City of Boulder’s management and maintenance of the court system is a function of BPR. The
department manages and maintains twenty-eight courts throughout the City of Boulder.
2.1 CURRENT COURT LOCATIONS AND INVENTORY
Court Name
Address
Dedicated
Tennis
Dedicated
Pickleball
Outdoor
Multi-sport
(Pickleball
and Tennis)
Outdoor
Multi-sport
(Pickleball
and inline
rink)
Lights
Geographical
Zone
Arapahoe Ridge Tennis Courts 1280 Eisenhower Dr,
Boulder, CO 80303
2
South
Chautauqua Multi-Use Court 900 Baseline Rd &, 9th St,
Boulder, CO 80302
1
South
Columbine Tennis Courts 2202 Glenwood Dr,
Boulder, CO 80304
2
North
East Boulder Community Park Tennis and Multi-Use 5660 Sioux Dr,
Boulder, CO 80303
4
1
5
South
Foothills Roller Sport Rink West 800 Cherry Ave.,
Boulder, CO 803034
4
North
Fredrick Law Olmsted Tennis and Multi-Use
(commonly known as North Boulder Recreation
Center)
3170 Broadway,
Boulder, CO 80304
2
2
4
North
Harlow Platts Multi-Use Courts
(commonly known as South Boulder Recreation
Center)
1360 Gillaspie Dr,
Boulder, CO 80305
4
South
Knollwood Tennis Courts 280 Spruce St,
Boulder, CO 80302
2
Central
Martin Tennis Courts 36th Street and Eastman Ave,
Boulder, CO 80305
2
South
North Palo Tennis Courts 30th Street and Redwood Pl,
Boulder, CO 80301
2
North
Tom Watson Tennis Courts 6180 N 63rd St,
Boulder, CO 80301
4
4
North
TOTALS
20
0 8 tennis or 16
pickleball
4
13
PLEASE NOTE: BPR offers indoor multi-sport court pickleball on a limited basis at each of its three
recreation center gymnasiums.
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2.2 PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Within the facilities mentioned above, the department facilitates a wide variety of programs and services
as well as the utilization of the courts by outside user groups. The table below summarizes the programs
and services that are held at the City of Boulder’s courts and the method by which the programs and
services are offered.
PLEASE NOTE: The City of Boulder has a service provider contract with Gonzo Tennis LLC to provide
adult and children’s racquet sport instruction and programming, focusing primarily on tennis and
pickleball. The terms and conditions of the contract that BPR has with Gonzo Tennis LLC for providing
adult and children' s racquet sport instruction and programming is in alignment with the best practice
standards outlined in BPR’s Service Contract Manual.
Progams and Services Offered Location Method of Providing
Tennis Lessons Outdoor Facilitate (through contractor)
Tennis Leagues Outdoor Facilitate
Tennis Tournaments Outdoor Facilitate
Tennis Drop-In Play Outdoor Direct
Tennis Court Reservations Outdoor Direct
Pickleball Lessons Outdoor Facilitate (through contractor)
Pickleball Leagues Outdoor Facilitate
Pickleball Tournaments Outdoor Facilitate
Pickleball Drop-In Play Outdoor and Indoor Direct
Pickleball Court Reservations Outdoor and Indoor Direct
City of Boulder Parks and Recreation
Court Programs and Services
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2.3 OUTDOOR COURT UTILIZATION – 2022
The chart below shows the 2022 scheduled/reserved utilization of outdoor tennis and multi-use courts
(not including platform tennis courts).
• External Rental Usage is defined as the reservation of courts by outside individuals or groups.
• Internal BPR Reservations is defined as the reservation of courts directly by BPR for lessons,
leagues, camps, clinics, and tournaments, including utilization by Gonzo Tennis LLC. A
breakdown of each type of usage reserved by BPR is not currently tracked by the department.
2.3.1 OUTDOOR COURT UTILIZATION ANALYSIS
Analysis reveals that:
• The overall utilization of courts cannot currently be measured as BPR does not have a means by
which to track drop-in, unscheduled usage.
• Of the hours in which courts were reserved in 2022, external rentals accounted for 20,567 hours
(or 66%) of the total usage.
• Internal BPR Reservations totaled 10,434 hours or 34% of all scheduled usage of outdoor courts.
Court Location Hours Rented
/Reserved
Total Hours
Available for
Reservation
% of Total Hours
Reserved
Arapahoe Ridge 25 8,400 0.3%
Chautauqua 809 4,000 20.2%
Columbine 424 8,250 5.1%
East Boulder 6,784 24,300 27.9%
Foothills 8 16,800 0.0%
Knollwood 1,124 8,350 13.5%
Martin 888 8,350 10.6%
North Boulder 6,799 18,340 37.1%
North Palo 93 8,350 1.1%
South Boulder 3,598 11,800 30.5%
Tom Watson 16 21,840 0.1%
EXTERNAL RENTAL USAGE 20,567 138,780 14.8%
INTERNAL BPR
RESERVATIONS 10,434 12,000 86.9%
TOTAL UTILIZATION 31,000 150,780 20.6%
2022 Outdoor Court Utilization Analysis
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2.4 OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS
In the fall of 2023 and winter of 2024, the consultant team conducted a series of internal and external
stakeholder and focus group meetings. Additionally, a thorough review and analysis of operational
policies, procedures and processes was conducted. The results of these focus group discussions and the
analysis of existing data were condensed to a series of key operational themes, which are as follows:
2.4.1 COURT MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE ANALYSIS
• Reservations are available for all outdoor tennis and multi-use courts.
• Outdoor court reservations are available on-line and managed through the City’s recreation
management software, Active.
• Outdoor courts are not supervised and BPR does not have check-in process for reserved courts.
• Any member of a BPR recreation center can reserve outdoor courts at the recreation center sites
(North, East, South) for free. Non-Members pay a $5 per court per hour reservation fee for courts
located at recreation center sites.
• The fee for reservation of a court not located at any of the recreation center sites is $6 per court
per hour.
• When outdoor courts are not reserved, they are available for free on a first come, first served
basis.
• Courts can be booked up to 7 days in advance and cannot be booked within 1 hour of reservation
time.
• The establishment of a formalized priority use system for outdoor courts is desired. Currently,
priority is given to:
o Adult and children's racquet sport instruction and programming through Gonzo Tennis,
LLC is reserved by BPR in advance.
o BOCO Pickleball is permitted to reserve the outdoor multi-use courts at the South
Recreation Center one, three-hour block of time per week and Boulder Tennis Association
use is reserved quarterly.
o Other competitive programs such as leagues and tournaments as well as private lessons
are booked after the public have access to reserve courts.
• Written standards for the maintenance of hard surface courts are included in the 2015 BPR
General Maintenance and Management Plan.
• BPR does not currently track the annual labor hours utilized to maintain the tennis and multi-use
courts.
• BPR has a best practice volunteer program in which members of the public can assist in the
maintenance of tennis and multi-use courts, specifically snow removal.
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2.4.2 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
• BPR does not currently track the total cost of service for the maintenance and management of
tennis and multi-use courts.
• The Active reservation system does not currently track the specific membership of the person
making the reservation.
• The system, Active, is deficient in its ability to accurately capture and report the details of
reservations including financial information. For example, a tabular export option of reports into
Excel that quantifies paid versus free reservations is not available as part of the Active system.
• When multiple courts are reserved as part of a singular reservation transaction, the Active system
will not generate a breakdown by individual court. The total revenue generated as part of the
reservation is captured as a whole, not by court.
• Active system loopholes do not allow for an accurate breakdown of the utilization of multi-use
outdoor courts by sport or revenue generated. Loopholes include:
o A person can reserve a multi-use “tennis court” and, in turn, utilize it as two pickleball
courts.
o Though it goes against Recreation Center Membership Policy, recreation center members
can make a court reservation for non-member friends or family free of charge without
participating in the reservation.
o Individuals with unlimited memberships can monopolize the pickleball courts because
the Active system allows them to book both a multi-use court as one tennis court (or two
pickleball courts) and a single pickleball court the same day. For example, a family that
has three individual members can make nine, 1.5 hour pickleball court reservations for
the same day.
• Due in part to the lack of data, the cost benefit of providing free tennis and multi-use courts to
Recreation Center members does not exist.
o Despite the limitations of the Active system, BPR calculations reveal that of the 20,567
hours reserved by the public in 2022, 30% were paid reservations. These and future
results should ensure alignment with the BPR Fee Policy.
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CHAPTER THREE - MARKET ANALYSIS
Following the assessment of BPR’s court system, the PROS Consulting Team conducted a market analysis
to provide insight into the community that the court system serves. In this chapter includes analytics
derived from the database of the Environmental Systems Research Institute that assesses the current and
future demographics of the City of Boulder. Additionally, a comparative analysis of the court providers
in Boulder and benchmarking of Colorado and national peer park and recreation agencies helps
contextualize BPR’s court system.
3.1 DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
An analysis of the local demographic makeup is helpful when understanding the population of the City of
Boulder. This analysis is reflective of the total population and its key characteristics such as age
segments, income levels, race, and ethnicity.
This analysis is based on projected demographics which may differ from actual future outcomes.
3.1.1 KEY FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS
The following implications are derived from the demographic analysis:
POPULATION
The population is expected to grow by 7.5%, 8,000 people over the next 15 year. With a growing
population, the city will need to focus on reinvesting in and maintaining the current court system while
also strategically adding courts over the next 10-15 years.
AGE SEGMENTATION
With an enrollment of more than 30,000 CU students, Boulder’s largest concentration of people is within
the 18-34 year old age segment. It is projected that by 2038 that 47% of the population will be 35 and
older. This is significant as one out of every two pickleball players and two out of every five tennis players
are aged 35 and older.
3.2 COURT PROVIDER ANALYSIS
PROS Consulting, in conjunction with BPR staff, identified public, nonprofit, and private court providers
in the City of Boulder that can be interpreted as both complementors and competitors of BPR. The goal
of this analysis is to evaluate where BPR’s court system is positioned in the local market. This provides
insight into how BPR can best meet the needs of the community in the future.
3.2.1 PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT PROVIDER COMPARISON
This section compares the scope and breadth of the offerings from other public and nonprofit providers,
and a comparison of the City of Boulder’s court system against those offerings as shown in the table
below. Comparisons are made when considering site amenities, services, and programming offered to
the community.
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PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT PROVIDER COMPARISON SUMMARY
• BPR operates the only public outdoor tennis and pickleball courts in the city. Other providers
have limited or restricted access due to utilization by students, alumni, and faculty/staff.
• BPR offers the most comprehensive tennis and pickleball program amongst the providers
identified in the chart on the previous page.
• None of the providers in this section provide stand alone, dedicated pickleball courts.
• Dedicated indoor courts are not provided by any of the public or nonprofit providers.
• The tennis courts at CU Boulder South Campus is slated for redevelopment starting in 2025.
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3.2.2 PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDER COMPARISON
This section compares the scope and breadth of the City of Boulder’s court system with that of private
sector providers in the region and includes amenities, services, and programming offered to the
community.
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PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDER COMPARISON SUMMARY
• The only provider of dedicated pickleball courts is Boulder Pickleball which opened in early 2023.
• Rocky Mountain Tennis Center directly provided the most comprehensive tennis program amongst
the providers identified in the chart on the previous page. Rocky Mountain Tennis Center’s lease
has ended as the site has been purchased and is slated for redevelopment which will not include
court operations. Efforts by private developers to establish a new racquet sports center at a
different site to replace this loss have not been successful as of this writing.
• There is no indoor provider available to the public.
3.2.3 OVERALL COURT PROVIDER ANALYSIS SUMMARY
BPR and Rocky Mountain Tennis Center were the leaders in court service delivery in the City of Boulder
as these two entities provided the most facilities and the most comprehensive system of programs and
services.
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3.3 NATIONAL PICKLEBALL TREND ANALYSIS
3.3.1 2022 PARTICIPATION DATA
All participation statistics are from a nationwide study conducted during the 2022 calendar year by Sports
Marketing Surveys USA (SMS). Under the guidance of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and
seven other sports industry associations that make up the Physical Activity Council (PAC), the
participation study was designed and launched by Digital Research (DRI). All other data is attributable to
the SFIA/SMS research partnership.
3.3.2 2023 FACILITY DATA
All facility statistics are from Pickleheads’ proprietary database. The court database has been built since
inception by an internal team that audits and reviews court information city-by-city and through court
edits and new court submissions from users of Pickleheads.com. The database as of June 2023 included
51,937 courts across 12,081 facilities in the U.S.
3.3.3 NATIONAL TRENDS IN PICKLEBALL ACTIVITY
The industry will need to spend over $900 million building courts over the coming years to satisfy current
and future demand. This would require building 25,784 courts nationwide at a projected cost of $902.4
million.
• Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States. There were 8.9 million participants
in 2022, an 85.7% increase from 2021 and a 158.6% increase from 2019.
• In 2022, the number of new participants of pickleball exceeded the total number of participants
in 2021. This highlights the unprecedented growth and increased awareness of the sport.
• Pickleball is a multigenerational sport. Our data indicates the average age of a pickleball player
is 35 years of age, and the age group with the most participants is 25-34, with the 65+ and 18-24
age groups following closely behind.
• Pickleball participation grew in every region in the United States in 2022 with the South Atlantic
region (including DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA) leading the way with 1.9 million pickleball players.
• Many of the largest metropolitan cities in the United States are far behind in satisfying pickleball
demand for courts.
• There remains a large opportunity to build dedicated pickleball facilities. Over 70% of pickleball
courts are temporary.
3.3.4 PICKLEBALL DEDICATED COURT LEVEL OF SERVICE
By overlaying regional participation data with facility data, we can gain insights into how well a region
is satisfying current pickleball demand. Level of service is measured as courts per 1,000 participants.
Dedicated courts are defined as those that have permanent nets and lines installed. This metric is used
to measure the court density per 1,000 participants in nine regions across the U.S. While comparable
metric for total courts (which includes temporary courts) is included, we focus on the dedicated index
because dedicated courts provide the best player experience.
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The chart below shows the regions ordered by dedicated courts per 1,000 participants.
The national average is 2.3 dedicated courts per 1,000 participants. The Mountain region, which includes
Colorado, has the highest density of courts at exactly twice the national average which impacts the
perception that the City of Boulder needs to provide dedicated pickleball courts to the community.
3.4 N ATIONAL TENNIS TREND ANALYSIS
3.4.1 OVERVIEW
The USTA announced that in 2022, tennis participation increased for the third consecutive year in the
United States. In 2022, participation in tennis grew by one million players with more than 23.6 million
people playing the sport. This number represents an increase of 5.9 million participants, or 33 percent
since the start of 2020. This information was compiled by the Tennis Industry Association.
The growth and health of the sport was not limited to just participation, as a variety of key efforts and
initiatives were focused on increasing access to the game and making the overall tennis experience better
for all players. The highlights of these efforts and initiatives are as follows:
FACILITIES AND PUBLIC PARKS
The USTA continued its work in supporting the infrastructure of tennis in the U.S. through various
facilities grants and support work. In 2022, the USTA worked with more than one hundred facilities across
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the country to provide technical assistance to build or refurbish courts at public parks and tennis
facilities.
The USTA also issued the first ever Tennis and Pickleball Statement of Guidance, developed with park
professionals and court contractors, detailing ways that public parks could most efficiently,
economically, and effectively incorporate the growth of both tennis and pickleball within their
communities.
JUNIOR PLAY
Numbers increased across the board for junior players competing in the Competitive Pathway. This
included both an 18 percent increase in unique junior tournament players and a 25 percent increase in
junior memberships.
USTA LEAGUE
USTA League, the country’s largest adult tennis league for players of all skill levels, grew by 11 percent
in 2022, with 284,000 unique participants competing throughout the year.
3.4.2 USTA STATEMENT OF GUIDANCE - PUBLIC FACILITIES APPROACH TO TENNIS AND
PICKLEBALL
As the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States and in concert with park
professionals, the USTA put forth a Statement of Guidance in 2023 for the development, expansion, and
renovation of public facilities and spaces related to tennis and pickleball. This guidance is presented
within the context and understanding that tennis and pickleball are currently experiencing significant
participation increases throughout the country and that both sports have ardent supporters advocating
for their respective sport. The Statement of Guidance provided by USTA is as follows:
OPTION #1: SPORT-SPECIFIC SITES
The development of tennis and pickleball facilities as singular-focused sport-specific sites and courts is
highly recommended by USTA. These facilities should be offered either as one central facility complex
or as separate sport-specific developments to best meet the needs of the citizens.
OPTION #2: NON-TRADITIONAL SPACES
If Option #1 is not possible, both tennis and pickleball
can be played and enjoyed by citizens in non-
traditional spaces. Look at all public hard surface
areas for conversion, such as multi-sport court sites
and/or vacant parking lot locations.
OPTION #3: SHARED USE OF TENNIS FACILITIES
If Options #1 and #2 are not possible, shared usage
through blended lines on existing tennis courts is
advisable for park locations of two (2) or fewer tennis
courts. For park locations of three (3) or more tennis
courts, every effort should be made to utilize Option
#1 or #2 due to the sustained growth and increasing
public demand for both sports.
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3.5 BENCHMARKING
3.5.1 LEVEL OF SERVICE
This section provides a general overview of dedicated courts available to residents as provided by a
sampling of other Colorado park and recreation agencies as well as national peer agencies. The table
below shows the level of service provided by each agency for outdoor dedicated pickleball and outdoor
dedicated tennis courts (1 court per X population) and the median level of service.
PLEASE NOTE: The fewer number of people served by a single court, the greater the level of service
being provided.
• Outdoor Dedicated Pickleball Courts – Given that BPR does not provide dedicated pickleball
courts, its level of service is non-existent and below that of all but one benchmarked agency.
• Outdoor Dedicated Tennis Courts – BPR provides a greater level of service than the benchmarked
median for Colorado agencies but a slightly less level of service than the median of other peer
agencies.
Agency Population
Outdoor
Dedicated
Pickleball
Courts
Outdoor
Dedicated
Tennis Courts
1 court per X
population
1 court per X
population
Boulder, CO (City Courts Only)108,663 NA 5,400
Broomfield, CO 76,976 25,659 6,415
Foothills Park and Recreation District, CO 93,000 9,300 5,813
Ft. Collins, CO 167,554 21,250 6,800
Longmont, CO 101,561 12,300 4,300
South Suburban Park and Recreation District, CO 157,261 7,663 25,542
Westminster, CO 111,153 13,894 6,538
COLORADO MEDIAN 15,011 9,235
Ann Arbor, MI 119,570 10,870 3,986
Asheville, NC 97,949 12,244 4,664
Bend, OR 107,305 6,312 13,413
Berkeley, CA 112,643 22,529 3,313
Bloomington, IN 80,332 8,033 3,651
Naperville, Illinois Park and Recreation District 149,540 8,308 4,154
Tempe, AZ 190,889 NA 3,743
OTHER PEER AGENCIES MEDIAN 11,383 5,275
MEDIAN TOTALS (ALL AGENCIES)13,197 7,102
Boulder, CO (City Courts Only)108,663 NA 5,400
COLORADO AGENCIES
OTHER PEER AGENCIES
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3.5.2 COURT RESERVATION PRICING
The following are the current individual court reservation rates charged by BPR and the Colorado
benchmark agencies.
As noted above, pricing strategies vary from agency to agency, however, BPR is the only agency that
includes court reservation fees with recreation center membership.
Agency Court Fees
(per court per hour)
Boulder, CO Free - recreation center members
$5.00 - non-members
Broomfield, CO $6.00
Foothills Park and Recreation District, CO $15.00 - residents
$20.00 - non-residents
Ft. Collins, CO $8.00
Longmont, CO $7.50
South Suburban Park and Recreation District, CO $10.00 - non-prime time
$20.00 - prime time
Westminster, CO $5.00 for two hours
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CHAPTER FOUR - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Engagement for this project is considered the Consult Level, based on the City of Boulder’s Engagement
Strategic Framework. The Consult Level means that the city will keep community members informed,
listened to, provide acknowledgement of their concerns and aspirations, and share feedback on how
public input influenced decisions.
The target audience for this engagement is community members who currently play pickleball and/or
tennis on BPR courts.
Engagement is structured in three windows for this plan so that community members can provide
feedback at specific milestones. After each window staff and consultants evaluate the feedback
gathered, bring a summary of feedback to PRAB, and incorporate feedback into deliverables.
• Engagement Window 1: October 2023
o Goal: Share a foundation of Information and Inquiry.
o Associated Deliverables: Data collection and needs assessment, recommendations, and
priorities for current courts.
• Engagement Window 2: February – March 2024
o Goal: Evaluate options.
o Associated Deliverables: Visioning and core program analysis, space allocation diagrams,
concept development.
• Engagement Window 3: April – June 2024
o Goal: Communicating recommendations.
o Associated Deliverables: Final draft.
The following sections provide a summary of Engagement Windows 1 and 2.
4.1 ENGAGEMENT WINDOW ONE
Input from Engagement Window 1 revealed that BPR’s court system is perceived to be inadequate
(quantity of courts and existing conditions) and, in turn, has operational challenges to overcome.
Participants see the system as one that is not excellently maintained but interactions with staff have
been overwhelmingly positive. The community does enjoy the programs and services offered, specifically
for tennis. Unmet needs exist, however, as the demand for tennis and pickleball services is currently
outweighing the available court time and/or existing amenities. The following summarizes the themes
of community input:
• The tennis and pickleball communities look to the city to be the primary provider of outdoor
courts more than indoor racquets. Historically, the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center has operated
a seasonal bubble which hosted the only indoor tennis courts in Boulder.
• There is a desire for additional publicly accessible courts due in part to upcoming changes in the
number of private courts in Boulder is anticipated to add greater demand to the city’s courts
(Rocky Mountain Tennis Center, CU South).
• There is a strong desire for dedicated pickleball courts.
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• There is a desire to recapture, at a minimum, the dedicated tennis court level of service that
existed prior to eight BPR tennis courts being striped for pickleball and tennis play.
• There is a desire to not share tennis courts with pickleball players due to the multiple lines on
the court and the inability to host sanctioned league and/or tournaments on those types of
courts.
• Pickleball players would like multiple courts at one or two locations to capitalize on the
socialization benefit of the sport and referred to South Boulder Recreation Center location
(currently accommodates eight pickleball courts) as a good starting point.
• Tennis players would like at least five and up to ten courts at one or two locations to support
leagues and tournaments.
• Outdoor courts are the preference for both user groups, though indoor courts are also desired.
• Gonzo Tennis LLC would like to operate out of one location to not incur the additional overhead
and cost of operating multiple sites (storage, transporting of equipment, etc.).
• There is a strong desire to explore public-private partnerships for larger facilities.
• The court reservation system and process should be overhauled.
4.1.1 ENGAGEMENT WINDOW 1- SUMMARY OF NEEDS
The following chart summarizes the needs as gleaned from Engagement Window 1. Each need that has
been identified will support the investment in the court system that is required to assist in meeting
community expectations. These need-based priorities are a result of both qualitative and quantitative
analyses from Engagement Window 1 to create and maintain an appropriate balance for planning and
operations.
Summary
*Create a court delivery system that is accessible, sustainable, and resilient.
*Maximize utilization of existing courts by updating the court reservation processes.
*Increase the number of tennis and pickleball courts in the system.
*Create dedicated courts for each sport (tennis and pickleball).
*Utilize best practice design standards to redevelop existing courts and build new courts.
*Enhance the playability of indoor pickleball offerings at BPR’s recreation center gymnasiums.
*Consider a public-public or public-private partnership to develop indoor racquet and pickleball courts.
4.2 ENGAGEMENT WINDOW TWO
During the second window of engagement for this project staff requested community feedback on
potential plans to expand the court system by adding up to 22 dedicated tennis courts and 22 dedicated
pickleball courts by 2036. Key takeaways from community feedback included:
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• Tennis and pickleball players are excited for plans for additional outdoor dedicated courts
especially at East Community Park, Valmont City Park, and Tom Watson Park.
• Both sports are interested in adding courts as soon as possible. Some shared concern that the
city was not acting fast enough.
• Tennis players requested that tennis courts at East Boulder Community Park be built first if a
conversion of the existing courts to pickleball was planned and shared concern about
maintenance of existing courts.
• Both sports, with more comments from tennis, shared an interest in indoor, year-round facilities.
• Both sports shared comments on specific amenities such as seating, lights, and walkways that
staff will reference as the design process continues.
• Neighbors and players shared concern and questions about noise impacts from pickleball.
• The platform tennis community shared interest in additional platform courts.
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CHAPTER FIVE - LEVEL OF SERVICE STANDARDS
5.1 METHODOLOGY
Level of Service (LOS) standards are guidelines that define service areas based on population that
support investment decisions related to tennis and pickleball courts. The city will continue to focus on
accessible, affordable courts and programming for tennis and pickleball. The city does not plan to provide
100% of the courts or programming within Boulder.
The consultant team evaluated and developed LOS standards using a combination of local, regional, and
national resources, including:
• Demographic projections (including population, age, and diversity segmentation).
• 2022 BPR Department Plan.
• 2022 United States Tennis Association City of Boulder Assessment.
• 2023 Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) Pickleball Report.
• 2023 Tennis Industry Association Annual Report.
• 2023 Pickleheads City of Boulder Court Report.
• Approximate current percentage of total population of tennis (10-12%) and pickleball (5-7%)
players in Boulder.
• Approximate current ratio of tennis to pickleball players in Boulder (two (2) tennis players: one
(1) pickleball player).
• Availability of existing parkland to develop dedicated tennis and pickleball courts.
• Community and stakeholder input including stakeholder meetings, PRAB Meetings, online
community questionnaire and general observations.
• Future planned courts in the City of Boulder.
• Current conditions of existing court inventory.
• Current and planned tennis and pickleball court capital improvements.
• Inventory available via other service providers.
• Opportunities and constraints analysis of existing and potential future park sites for tennis and
pickleball court development.
• The ability for the City of Boulder to financially sustain high-quality tennis and pickleball courts.
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5.2 CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE - 2024
The City of Boulder currently provides the following level of service for tennis and pickleball courts to
its residents.
• Outdoor Dedicated Pickleball Courts: Outdoor dedicated pickleball courts are not currently
provided by the city and therefore there is no LOS for this court type.
• Outdoor Dedicated Tennis Courts: The current LOS for outdoor dedicated tennis courts is one
(1) court per 5,400 population.
• Outdoor Multi-Use Tennis/Pickleball Courts: The current LOS for outdoor multi-use
tennis/pickleball courts is one (1) court per 13,500 population.
5.3 LEVEL OF SERVICE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on a thorough review of the court system and stakeholder input, it is recommended that BPR
increase its investment in tennis and pickleball courts to meet the level of service recommendations as
shown below. Specifically, it is recommended that BPR pursue the development of new dedicated tennis
and pickleball courts that meet the needs of the community and address the projected 2036 level of
service deficiencies.
COURTS
Outdoor Dedicated Tennis Courts 20.00 1.00 Court per 5,400
Outdoor Dedicated Pickleball Courts - 1.00 Court per NA
Outdoor Multi-Use Tennis/Pickleball Courts 8.00 1.00 Court per 13,500
Service Levels 2024
Inventory
2024 Service Level
City Population (108,000)City Inventory
COURTS
Outdoor Dedicated Tennis Courts 1.00 Court per 5,400 1.00 Court per 2,500 22 Courts
Outdoor Dedicated Pickleball Courts 1.00 Court per NA 1.00 Court per 5,000 22 Courts
Outdoor Multi-Use Tennis/Pickleball Courts 1.00 Court per 13,500 NA Court per NA NA Courts
Service Levels 2036 Needs
Additional Courts
Recommended to be Provided
by City by 2036
2024 Service Level based upon City
Population (108,000) Recommended Service Levels
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PLEASE NOTE: BPR should maintain the current inventory of outdoor multi-use courts and evaluate the
need for this court type as it adds outdoor dedicated tennis and pickleball courts.
Based on the recommended level of service, the BPR should add the following to its court system by
2036:
• Twenty-two (22) outdoor dedicated tennis courts to its court system.
• Twenty-two (22) outdoor dedicated pickleball courts to its court system.
As part of adding courts to the system, BPR will also consider equity in distribution as outlined in the
2022 BPR Department Plan. This means that BPR will look to distribute courts geographically and within
areas of the city where recreational services may currently be lacking.
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CHAPTER SIX - FACILITY ASSESSMENTS
6.1 GENERAL CONDITION ASSESSMENT - SUMMARY
The consulting team reviewed court assessment data provided by the city. The team completed an onsite
inspection of each court facility to affirm the findings of the city’s self-assessments. Each court location
facility was reviewed for code violations, deferred maintenance issues, safety concerns, and
functionality.
The table summarizes the Asset Priority Index (API) for the current tennis and pickleball courts. The API
is a combination of conditions and criteria for court management that provides a ranking out of 100 with
the value of 100 being the highest priority. This is used to prioritize maintenance across the court system.
For the API, the condition is rated as:
• Good: No major maintenance within 5 years.
• Fair: Maintenance needs within 3-4 years.
• Poor: Action required typically within 1-2 years.
For the API, the prioritization criteria are:
• Equity and access.
• Community use.
• Park Operations and maintenance.
• Sustainability and resilience (robustness).
* Assumes conversion to post tension concrete surface in 2024.
Arapahoe Ridge Tennis Courts*40*Resurface in 2034*
Chautauqua Multi-Use Court 65 Convert to Post Tension Concrete in 2025
Columbine Tennis Courts*45*Resurface in 2034*
East Boulder Community Park Tennis 75 Convert to Post Tension Concrete in 2025
Foothills Roller Sport Rink West 50 Repaint lines in 2032
Fredrick Law Olmsted Tennis and Multi-Use Courts
(commonly known as North Boulder Recreation Center)75 Convert to Post Tension Concrete in 2028
Harlow Platts Multi-Use Courts
(commonly known as South Boulder Recreation Center)85 Convert to Post Tension Concrete in 2027
Knollwood Tennis Courts 75 Resurface in 2026
Martin Tennis Courts 90 Resurface in 2036
North Palo Tennis Courts 65 Convert to Post Tension Concrete in 2028
Tom Watson Tennis Courts 65 Convert to Post Tension Concrete in 2029
APICourt Name Next Major Maintenance Task
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CHAPTER SEVEN – SITE SPECIFIC CONCEPT DIAGRAM DEVELOPMENT
7.1 SITE CRITERIA FOR POTENTIAL EXPANSION
As part of the general condition assessment phase, the consulting team, in conjunction with BPR staff,
determined which sites were best suited to be evaluated for tennis and/or pickleball court expansion.
The following criteria was utilized to determine which sites should be selected for further evaluation:
• Site should be classified as either a community park, city park or recreation site to allow adequate
space for activities and parking when compared to smaller park types.
• Site should be free of obvious topographic challenges.
• Sites for pickleball courts should take into account residential proximity and potential acoustic
conflicts. This may include the following approaches:
o Carry out decibel testing to ensure that pickleball play does not exceed legal noise limits at
the perimeter of residential lots.
o Consider locating new pickleball courts at least 500’ from residential areas, and a preferred
distance of 600’ to potentially reduce noise for residential neighbors.
o Add sound mitigation to ensure that pickleball play does not exceed legal limits.
• Equity considerations based on analysis from the 2022 BPR Department Plan.
• Overall geographical distribution of courts within the community.
This evaluation process determined that the most suitable sites for detailed conditions analysis are:
• East Boulder Community Park.
• Foothills Community Park.
• Harlow Platts Community Park (South Boulder Recreation Center).
• Stazio Ballfields.
• Valmont City Park.
• Tom Watson Park.
7.2 SITE SUITIBILITY CRITERIA EVALUATION
Upon completion of the detailed site analysis, the consulting
team, in conjunction with BPR staff, developed a
comprehensive criterion tool to further evaluate the
suitability of the six sites for court expansion. The ten
criteria are:
Criteria
Property Ownership
Adequate space for desired courts and amenities
Proximity to residential properties
Utilities (Water, Sewer, Stormwater, Electric)
Topography
Environmental Impact
Parking and Multi-modal access
Current Use / Planned Use/ Opportunity Cost
Equity
Exisiting Amenities
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7.3 DETAILED EXISTING CONDITIONS ANALYSIS
7.3.1 EAST BOULDER COMMUNITY PARK
SITE CONSIDERATIONS
• Existing well-used courts.
• Multi-use park with many activities.
• Current parking.
• 500-year floodplain which includes the existing courts and wetland at boundary with Hogan-
Pancost Property.
• Stream/ditch cuts across property.
• Adjacent to open space and connected to trails.
• Level/easily graded site.
• Potential near-term option for locating new pickleball courts between restroom and pond, and
re-designating existing courts for tennis only.
• Potential to explore development for dedicated tennis courts on the Hogan-Pancost property.
East Boulder Community Park Map with Park Boundary Outlined in Green
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7.3.2 FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY PARK
CONSIDERATIONS
• Residential proximity limits pickleball potential due to acoustic challenges.
• The temporary dog park is oversized and could be relocated or shifted slightly within the park.
Foothills Community Park Map with Park Boundary Outlined in Green
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• Original plan for the park included courts that were not able to be built during the initial phases
of development.
• Parking currently reaches capacity during weekends and youth sports events.
• Topography is a significant factor; major earthwork required.
o Level ground constrained by existing uses (athletic fields, playgrounds, picnic pavilions,
paragliding off knoll, etc.)
• Consideration should be given to the viewsheds.
• Site weather is windy.
• Absence of floodplains or wetlands.
• Potentially good trail connectivity.
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7.3.3 HARLOW PLATTS COMMUNITY PARK (SOUTH BOULDER RECREATION CENTER)
Harlow Platts Community Park (South Boulder Recreation Center) Map with Park Boundary Outlined in Green
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CONSIDERATIONS
• Currently a popular destination for pickleball.
• Occasionally used by local high schools for tennis overflow during tournaments.
• Site is constrained by:
o Residential proximity
o Sloping terrain
o Existing uses
• Lake, wetlands, stream/ditch are significant challenges to future site development.
• Development of park should be a part of larger site project that includes the potential
redevelopment of the adjacent South Boulder Recreation Center.
• There is a community need for athletic fields as determined by the 2015 Athletic Field Study, so
expansion of tennis courts to the east of existing courts is not desired due to the existing field.
• Limited potential in replacing/relocating the existing volleyball courts.
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7.3.4 STAZIO BALLFIELDS
Stazio Ballfields Map with Park Boundary Outlined in Green
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C ONSIDERATIONS
• A potential 8th baseball field focuses the addition of courts to the northern end of the park.
• Consideration of low-functioning wetland and 500-year floodplain is necessary.
• No residential impact.
• Active park with athletic uses.
• Parking currently reaches capacity during sporting events.
• Parking expansion could be challenging.
• Viewshed of the butte and flatirons is prominent.
7.3.5 VALMONT CITY PARK (SOUTH)
Valmont City Park (South) Map with Park Boundary Outlined in Green
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CONSIDERATIONS
• Existing 2015 Valmont City Park Master Plan identifies other uses for this location within the
park.
• Connected to existing trail network.
• Residential impacts are non-existent.
• Site is level and flat.
• No wetlands or floodplains in the development area, but opportunity exists to add wetlands if
mitigation is required.
• Infrastructure within the southern part of the park would be required.
7.3.6 TOM WATSON PARK
Tom Watson Park Map with Park Boundary Outlined in Green
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CONSIDERATIONS
• Though the tennis courts were recently resurfaced, additional reinvestment is needed in the
park.
• Residential impacts are non-existent.
• Site is flat, though wetlands and the slope of the property will minimize expansion to the south.
• The City of Boulder does not own the park. It has a long-term easement from IBM for the use of
the property as a community park.
• Adequate parking (used by lake-goers).
• Potential expansion of courts into existing volleyball courts and lawn area should be considered.
Playground at Tom Watson Park
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7.4 CONCEPT DIAGRAMS – PRIORITY SITES
Based on the outcomes of the site assessments as well as the community needs and level of service
analyses, conceptual diagrams were developed for the expansion of the tennis and pickleball court
system for the following priority sites.
1. East Boulder Community Park.
2. Valmont City Park (South).
3. Tom Watson Park.
PLEASE NOTE: Site specific concept diagrams are not intended to fully reflect what will happen as tennis
and pickleball courts are added to existing parks. Rather, concept diagrams create a visual of what is
possible within each of the priority site locations.
7.4.1 EAST BOULDER COMMUNITY PARK
CURRENT SITE
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CONCEPT DIAGRAM
Please Note:
• This concept is meant to show a potential configuration of amenities.
• Before finalizing the design, site evaluation will help determine where each amenity can be
located.
• Current amenities may be relocated such as the sand volleyball courts and practice area.
• Staff will be engaging in the process to make use of the Hogan Pancost property in parallel with
planning for schematic design of courts at East Boulder Community Park.
• The City purchased the Hogan Pancost property for utilities and parks usage.
• The first step in understanding potential for recreation use is determining regulatory feasibility
given flood impacts, groundwater requirements and water rights coordination before beginning
an annexation process.
• Including annexation, this process may take 9-24 months.
COURT SUMMARY
• Up to sixteen new outdoor dedicated pickleball courts.
• Up to a total of eight outdoor dedicated tennis courts (four existing, four new).
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7.4.2 VALMONT CITY PARK SOUTH
CURRENT SITE
CONCEPT DIAGRAM
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Please Note:
• This concept is meant to show a potential configuration of amenities.
• Before finalizing the design, site evaluation will help determine final location of amenities
including the access road and parking.
• A traffic study will need to be completed to determine the final recommended parking needs
and road alignment.
COURT SUMMARY
• Up to eight new outdoor dedicated pickleball courts.
• Up to fourteen new outdoor dedicated tennis courts.
7.4.3 TOM WATSON PARK
CURRENT SITE
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CONCEPT DIAGRAM
Please Note: This concept is meant to show a potential configuration of amenities.
COURT SUMMARY
• Up to eight new outdoor dedicated pickleball courts.
• Up to a total of 8 outdoor dedicated tennis courts (4 existing, 4 new).
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7.5 IMPACT OF PRIORITY SITE CONCEPT DIAGRAMS ON LEVEL OF SERVICE
GOAL
As detailed in Chapter 5, the recommended goal for the City of Boulder is to add, by 2036, up to:
• Twenty-two (22) outdoor dedicated tennis courts to its court system.
• Twenty-two (22) outdoor dedicated pickleball courts to its court system.
Pending the procurement of funding, the development of these three priority sites would bring BPR close
to meeting these additional court goals as follows:
7.6 CONCEPT DIAGRAMS – OTHER SITES
Given the volatility of the development of the priority sites as well as projected population growth and
tennis and/or pickleball court demand, it is necessary to consider additional sites for future expansion
beyond the priority sites.
Based on the outcomes of the site assessments, conceptual diagrams were developed for potential
further expansion the tennis and pickleball court system for the following sites.
1. Foothills Community Park
2. Stazio Ballfields
PLEASE NOTE: Site specific concept diagrams are not intended to fully reflect what will happen as tennis
and pickleball courts are added to existing parks. Rather, concept diagrams create a visual of what is
realistically possible within any given location.
2025 2028 2030
East Boulder
Community
Park
Up to 4 new tennis
Up to 16 new pickleball
Valmont
City Park
Up to 14 new tennis
Up to 8 new pickleball
Watson
Community
Park
Up to 4 new tennis
Up to 8 new pickleball
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7.6.1 FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY PARK
CURRENT SITE
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CONCEPT DIAGRAM
Please Note: This concept is meant to show a potential configuration of amenities.
COURT SUMMARY
• Up to eight new outdoor dedicated tennis courts.
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7.6.2 STAZIO BALLFIELDS
CURRENT SITE
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CONCEPT DIAGRAM
Please Note: This concept is meant to show a potential configuration of amenities.
COURT SUMMARY
• Up to six new outdoor dedicated tennis courts.
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7.7 COURT SYSTEM MAP
The following map shows the location and distribution of current and potential future tennis and/or
pickleball courts in Boulder.
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CHAPTER EIGHT - COST ESTIMATING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
To plan and prioritize the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for courts, recommendations include
balancing the maintenance needs of existing courts (mufti-use and dedicated tennis) with the
development of new courts (dedicated pickleball and tennis). The Capital Improvement Strategy (CIS)
was developed in 2022 to inform long-term investments for the department and support the policy
direction in the 2022 BPR Department Plan. The chart below from the 2022 BPR Department Plan
indicates the following three actions:
1. Fiscally Constrained Scenario - Well-maintained existing courts
2. Action Scenario – Enhance the durability of existing courts while considering the addition of some
courts.
3. Vision Scenario – Additional court facilities may be developed though BPR would require new
funding to support this action.
As part of all court capital improvements equity will be strongly considered, including opportunities to
enhance wheelchair accessibility of courts by widening entrances to accommodate tennis wheelchairs,
providing access within the site for wheelchairs and mobility devices, and other efforts to address access
for people with disabilities.
Like any other recreation activity in the department, pickleball and tennis need to be considered in the
context of funding for the department. To this extent, the capital funding for existing and new courts as
laid out below shows a desire by BPR to maintain well what we have, while adding new courts to support
the level of service these recreational activities would support in Boulder.
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8.1 RECOMMENDED SIX-YEAR CIP FOR EXISTING COURTS
CIP Six-Year Workplan for Existing Courts: Asset management projects consider lifecycle replacement,
facility condition index (FCI), asset prioritization index (API), backlog maintenance needs, and universal
access improvements. During the assessment of the existing courts, a pattern emerged where - despite
maintaining the courts in good condition, the magnitude of maintenance required continued to increase.
Upon further evaluation, it became clear that maintenance was increasing due to most of the courts
being past the expected life cycles.
In evaluating the different approaches of reinvesting in the existing courts, BPR concluded that the
strategy with the highest cost benefit and return on investment is the conversion of existing courts to
post-tension concrete. This conversion costs more than a single instance of resurfacing, but ultimately
creates significant maintenance savings over the life of the court. As an added benefit, post tension
concrete courts significantly improve the playing experience, as minimal cracking and settling occurs.
The following table details the CIP workplan for the conversion of existing courts to post tension concrete
of existing courts through 2030:
CIP Workplan for Existing Courts
Year Funding Action Location
2024 $400,000 Post-tension concrete court conversion of existing courts Arapahoe Ridge and
Columbine
2025 *$400,000 Post-tension concrete court conversion of existing courts East Boulder Community
and Chautauqua
2026 *$400,000 Resurfacing Knollwood
2027 *$400,000 Post-tension concrete court conversion of existing courts Harlow Platts (South
Boulder Recreation
Center)
2028 *$400,000 Post-tension concrete court conversion of existing courts Olmsted (North Boulder
Recreation Center) and
North Palo
2029 *$400,000 Post-tension concrete court conversion of existing courts Tom Watson
2030 *$400,000 Post-tension concrete court conversion of existing courts TBD
*Note: CIP funding is approved for one-year ahead, and the out years (2025-2030) are recommendations only.
Each year ahead will be approved by City Council in October.
(i.e., 2025 funding will be approved in October 2024)
8.2 RECOMMENDED SIX-YEAR CIP FOR NEW DEDICATED COURTS
BPR has identified funding in the six-year CIP through 2030 to add new courts for both pickleball and
tennis with the goal of meeting the recommended level of service by adding twenty-two (22) additional
outdoor dedicated tennis courts (for a total of 42 dedicated tennis courts) and twenty-two (22) outdoor
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dedicated pickleball courts to its court system. If meeting the level of service recommendations within
the six-year CIP period is not possible, BPR will consider implementing the concept diagrams for Foothills
Community Park and/or Stazio Ballfields as part of the 2031-2036 CIP workplan.
CIP Workplan for New Dedicated Courts
Cost Estimate Action Location
$1.9M Up to 16 new pickleball courts and up to 4 new tennis courts East Boulder Community
Park
$1.6M - $2.0M Up to 8 new pickleball courts and up to 14 new tennis courts Valmont City
Park (South)
$2.5M - $3.2M Up to 8 new pickleball courts and up to 4 new tennis courts Tom Watson
Park
*Note: CIP funding is approved for one-year ahead, and the out years (2025-2030) are recommendations only.
The city budget is approved by City Council in October each year.
(i.e., 2025 funding will be approved in October 2024)
Valmont and Tom Watson Park will require additional funding to develop new courts.
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CHAPTER NINE – INDOOR RACQUET FACILITY – VISION ALTERNATIVE
Part of the Boulder Court System Plan explores the role BPR plays in providing tennis and pickleball courts
and services to the Boulder community. As outlined in the 2022 BPR Department Plan, the focus continues
to be on providing high community-benefit and publicly accessible facilities and programs.
The 2022 BPR Department Plan provides for the future development of Valmont Park (South) including
potential additional community recreation facilities such as an indoor racquet facility under the ‘Vision’
funding scenario. The ‘Vision’ funding scenario for courts also points to potential development of
additional facilities.
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The Vision alternative represents the complete set of services and facilities desired by the community,
without regard to resources or viability. While the Vision alternative is fiscally unconstrained and
unfunded, the intent is to provide high-level policy guidance by illustrating the ultimate goals of the
community and by providing an aspirational look to the parks and recreation system, without considering
feasibility.
Any proposal for an indoor facility is currently unfunded. The purpose of this chapter is to explore
scenarios for an indoor facility to help inform how this concept could move from vision to reality.
Based on recommendations in the 2022 BPR Department Plan and analysis as shown in Chapter 7, Valmont
Park (South) would be the most suitable location for a potential indoor racquet facility in BPR’s system.
This builds on the 2015 concept plan developed for Valmont Park (South).
An indoor racquet facility at Valmont City Park (South) should be viewed as a complex aspirational project
given the length of time and the capital cost to construct upon undeveloped vacant property. The
complexity however goes beyond the time and cost and can be summarized to two questions:
1. Can the city leverage current public and/or private assets within the community to create an
indoor racquet facility for Boulder community?
2. What delivery model is the most viable way to provide indoor racquet facility while balancing
other factors of risk, cost, time-to-market, and control?
There are three indoor racquet facility methods for the city to consider:
1. City Owned and Operated.
2. Public-Private Partnership.
3. Ground Lease and Management Agreement.
All three are used widely throughout the country in the parks and recreation industry for different types
of facilities. The following sections further describe each option and evaluate the pros and cons of each.
9.1 CITY OWNED AND OPERATED INDOOR RACQUET FACILITY METHOD
• Definition: An entirely city-owned and city-operated tennis facility.
The city has the benefit of controlling everything from construction through operations and the benefit
of realizing all revenues, but it has the obligation to cover all expenses necessary to build and operate
the tennis center. The city would also bear all risks associated with the facility and management of it.
While possible, this is the most expensive model for the city and would require an exploration of
alternative funding options to make it possible to cover capital investment and ongoing maintenance
costs.
• EXAMPLE: Apex Park and Recreation District, Arvada CO - Apex Tennis Center –
Apex Park and Recreation District (apexprd.org)
9.1.1 PROS AND CONS SUMMARY
• PRO: This model puts the city in full control from design and construction methods to
operational decisions such as price, service area, customer service, and service offerings.
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• CON: There is a high cost in terms of capital investments and ongoing operations and
maintenance with BPR providing a new public service.
• CON: Time-to-ribbon cutting is critical to serve the indoor tennis needs of the community and
this model will take, conceptually, the longest time to implement – five to ten years as noted
below:
o Authorization of funding: 1 - 5 years.
o Design through construction: 4 -5 years.
9.2 PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP METHOD
• Definition: Partially or fully city-owned/constructed tennis facility that is partner operated.
This is a balanced approach, with the city realizing the benefit of having a partner address costs and
risks based on partnership goals and responsibilities, while preserving some level of control (and
responsibility) to the city and placing on the city some level of risk.
Potential private operator and capital partners exist; however, the financial constraints are similar to
the city-owned method since design and construction processes will reside with the City of Boulder.
• EXAMPLE: Leftwich Tennis Center, Home - New Leftwich Tennis Center (memphistn.gov). A
comprehensive operational feasibility study conducted in 2019 by PROS Consulting is provided as
an appendix.
9.2.1 PROS AND CONS SUMMARY
• PRO: Direct control remains with the city with a partnership agreement that defines mutual goals
and responsibilities to best serve the racket community.
• PRO: Potential strong market interest from capital and operator partners exists.
• PRO: Private partner with extensive operational knowledge would mean providing best practice
indoor racquet facility management to Boulder residents.
• PRO: The city owns the land which provides negotiation leverage.
• CON: The financial risk to the city remains with level of exposure dependent on ownership stake.
• CON: Time-to-ribbon cutting is quicker than with a city owned and operated facility as the
funding authorization as well as design and construction would occur with the private entity, not
the City of Boulder.
9.3 GROUND LEASE & MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT METHOD
• Definition: Negotiate tennis facility objectives with a third-party provider who owns and
operates the facility.
This is the city's easiest and lowest risk approach. The city leases ground to a third-party service provider.
The service provider would fund, construct, own and operate the facility consistent with their regular
operating model, subject to the terms of the lease – which would include terms that further the city’s
indoor racquet facility objectives either directly or indirectly.
• EXAMPLE: Parker Racquet Club, Parker, CO - Indoor racquet facility | South
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Denver | The Parker Racquet Club
9.3.1 PROS AND CONS SUMMARY
• PRO: Potential strong market interest from capital and operator partners exists.
• PRO: The cost to the city, relative to the other models, is minimal and would not require the
city to issue debt.
• PRO: The city owns the land which provides negotiation leverage.
• PRO: Additional financial investment and risk is low for the city.
• PRO: Private partner with extensive operational knowledge would mean providing best practice
indoor racquet facility management to Boulder residents.
• CON: City loses direct control over achievement of goals and responsibilities. Potentially limits
flexibility to address both current and future changing community needs.
• CON: Potentially limits ability to build multi-use indoor facility which could include other uses
beyond racket sports.
9.4 NEXT STEP RECOMMENDATIONS
BPR is unable to pursue an indoor facility with the current fiscally constrained funding scenario. The plan
recommends finding additional funding and a partner to explore options for indoor court facilities. Below
are 3 key strategies:
1. Continue to consider a potential short-term option and mid-term options such as an indoor
bubble with a donor or partner at East Boulder Community Park.
2. Develop a long-term funding plan for a bubble or permanent structure at Valmont City Park.
3. Identify opportunities to develop formal agency, government, and community partnerships
(such as Memorandum of Understanding, Request for Interest, Inter-Governmental
Agreements)
Donations, partnerships, and funding options can vary widely. Each option will need evaluation based on
factors such as system-wide prioritization, feasibility studies, and partnership value exchange
assessments. A funding plan or large partnership can include more than one type of recreation activity.
9.4.1 SYSTEM-WIDE PRIORITIZATION:
BPR has kicked off a systemwide indoor facility assessment (Future of Recreation Centers) that will
review and evaluate the system-wide operations and recreation activities for the main three recreation
centers (East Boulder Community Center, North Boulder Recreation Center, and South Boulder Recreation
Center). As part of the assessment, existing conditions of the recreation centers and the potential future
demand will be analyzed to inform capital decision-making. This assessment will also consider other
potential uses for the facilities and/or sites including but not limited to aquatic facilities and sport
courts.
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This assessment will be used as a baseline to inform project scoping for existing recreation center
renovations and assess needs for a potential future facility at Valmont Park. This assessment will include
continued communication and engagement with the community.
Below is an example of the Future of Recreation Centers assessment milestones to ensure indoor racquet
courts are considered within the context of the greater BPR system.
• Document all current amenities, activities, and programming at each recreation center.
• Evaluate current levels of service and identify efficiencies and opportunities to increase these
levels of service or combine services.
• Define desired level of service for existing and future indoor recreation activities.
• Define measurement, goals, and distribution for level of service.
• Identify gaps in service.
• Provide short term space allocation options to meet immediate needs in relation to current and
upcoming funding opportunities.
• Consideration toward potential new facility to accommodate future activities and industry
trends.
9.4.2 FEASIBILITY STUDY
Based on results of system-wide prioritization, development of a full feasibility study is recommended
for a potential new facility before conversation with viable partners. Several examples are provided in
the appendix. Below are examples of what should be included in the feasibility study.
• Financial and operational sustainability. Including:
o Initial capital cost.
o Operational and programming costs, cost recovery goals.
• Detailed site and land use evaluation in relationship to other potential site-specific uses, such as
a potential indoor aquatic facility.
• Creation of schematic design for an indoor facility.
• Development of a detailed construction cost estimate.
• Funding alternatives evaluation.
• Operational/financial business plan.
• Identification of the most viable option for constructing and operating an indoor facility.
If staff determines the project is feasible and viable, then it is recommended that the City of Boulder
start the legal process to procure a partnership. This could include the issuance of a Request for Interest
(RFI) or Request for Proposal (RFP). If the project is determined to not be feasible, the City of Boulder
should not pursue the project further.
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9.4.3 PARTNERSHIP VALUE EXCHANGE:
Local governments may enter partnerships with other organizations to leverage public resources and seek
financial sustainability. Changing budgets combined with increased community requests to collaborate
with the city require consideration of innovative approaches extending beyond the traditional options
relied on by governments for funding and service delivery.
Successful partnerships require assessment of community support for the type of relationship,
appreciation of partner intentions and capabilities, mutually defined and codified expectations and a
clear understanding of partnership services and products to meet the community’s needs.
The City of Boulder has a cross-departmental resource team to support successful city partnerships and
foster uniformity in the City’s approach. Below is an example of a value exchange graph available as a
resource for evaluation.
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CHAPTER TEN - OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
10.1 OPERATIONAL STANDARDS
The operational standards for managing an outdoor tennis and pickleball court system are rooted in the
applicable 2022 BPR Department Plan goals, which are as follows.
1. Community Health and Wellness - Keep boulder emotionally and physically healthy, in part,
through its tennis and pickleball facilities and programs.
2. Financial Sustainability - Balance the many tennis and pickleball demands with existing resources
while continually recognizing the need to focus on core services and community priorities.
3. Taking Care of What We Have - Prioritize investments in existing parks and facilities, including
but not limited to tennis and pickleball courts.
4. Building Community and Relationships - Build a connected community through outreach programs
and initiatives. Create social and cultural equity for healthy relationships across Boulder.
5. Organizational Readiness - Respond to changes over time by using new technologies and data-
driven and collaborative decision-making tools.
To accomplish these goals, the city must be willing to invest in the capital and annual operational costs
and to determine the right management strategy.
If this is accomplished, the tennis and pickleball court system will achieve the expectations outlined in
this plan. It is anticipated that the city will continue to manage all aspects of the outdoor courts as BPR
has the skill set to manage the system to best practice standards.
Additionally, BPR should manage the outdoor court system within the framework of the department’s
fee policy. This will require that the programs, leagues, tournaments, and clinics offered on the courts
are priced to market rates and managed to best practice standards.
The city should create a priority use system and update its formal allocation guidelines for the court
system that strikes an appropriate balance between the myriads of local uses (drop-in play, leagues,
smaller tournaments) and the attraction of regional tournaments.
10.2 OPERATING HOUR ASSUMPTIONS
It is anticipated that the courts will be available, weather permitting, 12 months per year and available
for use during the following hours.
• Lighted Courts: Sunday - Saturday 7am to 9pm.
• Non-Lighted Courts: 7am – Dusk.
10.3 COURT MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATIONS
The following best practice maintenance standards are desired for hard surface courts (Post Tension
Concrete/Asphalt).
10.3.1 WEEKLY MAINTENANCE
The weekly maintenance tasks required for hard surface tennis, pickleball and multi-use courts (asphalt
or concrete) are as follows:
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• Visually inspect the playing surface for cracks and any other imperfections.
• Pick up any loose trash and debris.
• Adjust net heights accordingly Tennis- 36”, Pickleball 34” in the center.
• Check and replace center net strap, as necessary.
• Visually inspect lighting, gates, fencing, post systems, and windscreens; minor repairs should be
performed immediately. Third party contractors will perform major repairs.
• Blow off or sweep dirt or debris. Leaves, twigs, and plant material left on the court may stain
the court and can also result in a tripping or slipping hazard.
• If play is mandatory shortly after a rain (i.e., leagues, tournaments, etc.), a water removal unit
will be necessary. The following products are recommended for sweeping and removing water
on hard surface tennis/pickleball courts:
o Push Broom Aluminum Handle 36" Complete.
o Rol-Dri Master Complete Water Remover.
10.3.2 ANNUAL MAINTENANCE – PRESSURE WASHING
A hard tennis court should be pressure washed at least annually to remove built up mildew, dirt etc.
10.3.3 LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP
Hard tennis courts (asphalt/concrete) should be resurfaced every 5 years. Resurfacing consists of the
following steps:
• Crack repair, which can entail filling in cracks or installing a fiberglass membrane over the cracks.
• Patching of low areas and depressions that hold water.
• Application of acrylic “resurfacer” to cover minor imperfections in the surface.
• Application of cushion materials, if required.
• Application of acrylic court paint.
• Application of acrylic line paint and line sealer.
10.3.4 SNOW REMOVAL
Removal of snow on tennis and pickleball courts will continue to be provided as part of BPR’s Snow
Removal Champ Volunteer Program. Through this program, BPR will provide volunteers with the
information and supplies needed to remove the snow from the courts.
PLEASE NOTE: BPR will continue to disallow the use of metal-edged shovels, snow blowers, or other
equipment that could damage the court surface.
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10.3.5 ANNUAL MAINTENANCE LABOR HOURS PER COURT
The chart details the task/frequency/labor hour standards necessary to maintain one (1) tennis court or
four (4) pickleball courts per year.
With twenty-eight (28) tennis/multi-use courts in the system, the annual labor hour standards for the
maintenance of the current BPR court system equates to 771.40 or .53 FTE.
PLEASE NOTE: Standard and annual hours reflect only work to be performed on tennis and/or pickleball
courts and do not take into consideration other work that might be done by staff while on site or travel
time between parks and facilities.
10.3.6 ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COURT COSTS – CURRENT SYSTEM
As detailed in the figure below, the current annual maintenance costs per one (1) tennis court or four
(4) pickleball courts are $55,362.47 (or 1,977.23 per court).
10.4 COURT UTILIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS
• 2024-2031: Until such time that new courts are added to East Boulder Community Park, Valmont
City Park, and Tom Watson Community Park, it is recommended that all existing courts remain
available for programming, reservations, rentals, and first come, first served, drop-in use.
• 2032 and beyond: After implementation of the capital improvement plan, the city may identify
certain court locations to be “premier sites”. Premier sites would be the primary locations where
formalized use occurs (i.e., programming, league play, tournaments, advanced reservations,
etc.).
Task Unit Frequency Time of Year Standard Hours
per unit
Annual Hours per
Tennis Court /
Four Pickleball
Courts
Tennis / Pickleball Courts - Level 1 Maintenance 45 Weeks per Year
Goal: To provide a safe and quality surface for
practice or competitive type events
Sweep/Blow off surface Court Weekly March - Novemeber 0.17 7.65
Inspect windscreens, nets, poles, fencing Court Weekly March - Novemeber 0.17 7.65
Minor repairs/adjustments as needed Court Weekly March - Novemeber 0.25 11.25
Major Inspection Court Annually March 1.00 1.00
27.55Total Annual Labor Hours per Tennis Court / 4 Pickleball Courts
TOTAL
POSITIONS
TOTAL
PROJECTED
ANNUAL
LABOR HOURS
PROJECTED
DIRECT ANNUAL
LABOR COSTS
PROJECTED
ANNUAL BENEFIT
COSTS
(40% of direct
costs)
PROJECTED
TOTAL ANNUAL
LABOR COSTS
PROJECTED SUPPLY,
MATERIAL,
EQUIPMENT COSTS
($500 per court)
PROJECTED
ANNUAL
CURRENT COURT
SYSTEM COST
PROJECTED
ANNUAL
CURRENT PER
COURT COST
BMEA 1 771 29,544.62$ 11,817.85$ 41,362.47$ 14,000.00$ 55,362.47$ 1,977.23$
STAFF GRADE
Available Working
Time
Break Down
Cost Approximations
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10.5 PROJECTION OF FUTURE ANNUAL COURT UTILIZATION
The consulting team assumes that the court system will be utilized approximately 35,000 hours annually
in 2032 upon completion of the expanded system. The chart below provides a guideline for the projected
percentage by user type.
User Type BPR Functional Work Group
Responsbility
Percentage of
Utilization
Youth Rec Programming/Drop-In Sports and Community Events 20%
Adult Rec Programming/Drop-In Sports and Community Events 5%
Public Reservations Sports and Community Events 67%
Youth Competitve Programming Sports and Community Events 2%
Adult Competitive Programming Sports and Community Events 1%
Advance Rentals Sports and Community Events 2%
Tournaments Sports and Community Events 1%
Gonzo Tennis LLC private lessons Sports and Community Events 1%
Third Party Private Lessons Sports and Community Events 1%
100%
Potential Annual Court Utilization Guideline
TOTAL
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10.6 INDIVIDUAL RESERVATION PROCESS RECOMMENDATIONS
Due to the inconsistencies in the current reservation system process, the consulting team is
recommending reservations for outdoor tennis, pickleball and multi-use courts no longer be included as
part of recreation center membership. BPR’s Fee Policies provides for higher cost recovery for activities
with higher individual benefit such as adult court reservations. Current issues with reservations include:
• Recreation center members are not currently provided a full discount to rent or reserve any
other recreational space within the parks system, including such amenities as picnic shelters,
athletic fields, etc.
• Recreation center members can currently make a court reservation for non-member friends or
family free of charge without participating in the reservation.
• Individuals with unlimited memberships can monopolize the pickleball courts because the Active
system allows them to book both a multi-use court as one tennis court (or two pickleball courts)
and a single pickleball court the same day. For example, a family that has three individual
members can make up to nine (9), ninety-minute pickleball court reservations for the same day.
To address the above issues, it is recommended that upon implementation of a new recreation
management software program that the following individual reservation process be implemented:
10.6.1 COURT SYSTEM RULES AND REGULATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS
• Reservations can be made up to seven days in advance.
• BPR may choose to internally reserve court time whereby the only use would be for drop-in play.
• All court rentals are final. Refunds will not be given due to adverse weather conditions or other
unforeseen events.
• Only one court reservation per person per day for a maximum time of 1.5 hours.
• All reservations must be made at least one hour in advance.
• It is highly recommended that reservations be made online. Those without on-line access can
reserve at the front desk of a recreation center provided the reservation is at least 1 hour in
advance.
• Last reservation is one hour prior to closing.
• Court cancellations or reservation time changes can be made on-line or by calling BPR.
10.6.2 COURTS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL AND HOURS OF OPERATION
LIGHTED COURTS
Year Round Hours
• 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday to Friday.
• 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Saturday.
• 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday.
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NOT LIGHTED COURTS
Summer Hours
• 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday to Friday.
• 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Saturday and Sunday.
Spring and Fall Hours
• 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday to Friday.
• 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Saturday and Sunday.
Winter Hours
• 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday to Friday.
• 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday and Sunday.
10.6.3 GUIDELINES FOR PLAY
• Players should arrive no more than ten minutes prior to their reservation time.
• Players should bring their own water.
• No unauthorized lessons permitted.
• No personal ball machines.
10.7 ADVANCE GROUP RENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Groups in good financial standing with BPR may be allocated court time each calendar year quarter in
advance. It is recommended that BPR staff allocate space and time with the goal of ensuring that a
balance of activities and opportunities are available to residents. User groups may not monopolize
desirable court time that jeopardizes a variety of programming opportunities being offered to the
residents of Boulder. If competing requests for allocation takes place, the following factors will be
considered in the allocation of courts:
• Adherence to permit requirements and facility rules and regulations during previous
commitments.
• Total number of Boulder residents in the organization/program.
• Percentage of residents vs. nonresidents.
• Type of program (youth or adult, competitive or recreational, etc.).
The consulting team recommends that advance group rental recommendations follow the same
procedures that are in place for other amenities available for rent, such as athletic fields and swimming
pools.
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10.7.1 TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The following terms and conditions should be applied to each court rental agreement:
• Rentals will be charged for a minimum of three hours.
• A full deposit is due once the contract has been signed.
o Deposit may be used for any damage incurred during the rental period.
o Damages occurring because of your players, coaches, and spectators will be billed
directly to the renter.
• The remaining rental balance is due two weeks in advance of the rental.
• Courts will not be rented to any organization whose use of the courts presents a conflict of
interest.
• Liability insurance of $2,000,000 naming the City of Boulder as additionally insured is required
for special events, leagues, camps, and tournaments.
• Dogs and glass bottles are not allowed within the tennis, pickleball, and multi-use courts.
• The number of supervisors, lights, trash removal, and scheduled maintenance, etc. will be
determined by the Sports and Community Events staff based on the event.
• The City of Boulder will determine court playability.
10.8 PRICING OF TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL COURT RESERVATIONS
The Department of Parks and Recreation’s Fee Policy, approved in 2023, represents a standardized
approach to program categorization and definitions, while aligning a clear subsidy level based on the
level of community benefit provided. Fees, including those charged for reservations of courts, are an
efficient and equitable way to distribute the costs associated with providing services that exceed the
ability of the tax base to support the costs. The comprehensive policy promotes community
understanding with clear fee practices and financial sustainability. The policy includes a 100% cost
recovery target for tennis and pickleball court reservations and a minimum 50% cost recovery target for
all other court uses.
Per the Fee Policy, the department should, at a minimum, review fees and charges for the use of tennis
and pickleball courts every two years. While setting rates, staff must evaluate market rates and demand
for the activity to determine price sensitivity for any proposed price adjustments.
To minimize impacts to participants, fee increases may be limited to 10% in a year for any community or
recreation level programs. Fee increases may be phased in over a 2-to-3-year period to minimize impacts
to participants.
When establishing fees, BPR will support fees that the market will bear, even if this exceeds the cost
recovery targets. Additionally, BPR will not undercut the market as it is not a good use of subsidy and
jeopardizes the overall health of the market. Programs and services in high demand, such as the
reservations of courts, should also evaluate fee increases to improve cost recovery.
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10.8.1 EQUITABLE ACCESS
To ensure there is equitable access for populations the community has prioritized, the department will
continue to subsidize access for people with low-incomes, people with disabilities, youth, and seniors.
The department is committed to maintaining financial aid programs to qualifying Boulder residents,
providing subsidized access to facilities and programs, as funding allows.
10.8.2 STAFFING
Additional fees may be charged for events, rentals, and reservations that require BPR site supervision
and/or maintenance staff beyond those that are regularly scheduled to work. An additional premium
applies for BPR site supervision and/or parks maintenance staffing that must take place outside of regular
operational hours, recognizing it requires a shift in regular scheduling and management support to
administer.
10.8.3 COURT RESERVATION PRICING SCHEDULE
Outdoor dedicated courts advance reservation fees are based on the prevailing BPR pricing policy and
fee schedule.
Boulder Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan
64
CHAPTER ELEVEN - CONCLUSION
Boulder continues to develop as a community comprised of healthy-minded, physically active citizens
including those who love tennis and pickleball. The unprecedented growth in the participation in the
sports of pickleball and tennis over the last five years creates challenges and opportunities for BPR to
operate effectively and efficiently.
The following key recommendations should serve as the guide for improving the tennis and pickleball
court system for the next five to ten years.
• All plans for courts should follow City of Boulder's Community Sustainability, Equity and
Resilience Framework and the 2022 BPR Department Plan to best serve the community.
• BPR should continue the asset management approach by investing $400K per year over the next
six years to improve the playability of existing courts and reduce long-term maintenance costs.
• BPR should develop additional outdoor courts as funding and capacity allow. The recommended
additions are: 22 additional dedicated tennis courts and 22 dedicated pickleball courts.
• BPR should explore potential partnerships to better understand indoor facility opportunities. For
example, BPR will continue to determine feasibility of temporary indoor facility with
construction at East Boulder Community Park in 2025 and long-term opportunities as part of the
Future of Recreation Centers project.
• BPR should pursue programming, reservation, and maintenance improvements.
Following the assessment of the Boulder Parks and Recreation Department operations, the PROS
Consulting Team identified a variety of opportunities to support the development of the Court System
Plan:
11.1 LEVEL OF SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS
• All plans for courts should follow City of Boulder's Community Sustainability, Equity and
Resilience Framework and the 2022 BPR Department Plan to best serve the community.
• BPR should develop additional outdoor courts as funding and capacity allow. By 2036, the
recommended additions are as follows:
o 22 dedicated tennis courts.
o 22 dedicated pickleball courts.
• BPR should further evaluate potential partnership to better understand indoor facility
opportunities.
11.2 OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
11.2.1 COURT MAINTENANCE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
• Adherence to court maintenance standards.
• Dedication of approximately 771 annual labor hours to court maintenance based on current
system inventory.
• Allocation of approximately $60,000 annually to court maintenance (or $2,000 per court).
Boulder Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan
65
11.2.2 COURT MANAGEMENT KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
• Establish a priority user system.
• Evaluate the recreation center membership inclusion of court reservations.
• Focus on programming and court reservations at key court locations.
• Allow the use of satellite locations at no cost on a first come, first served basis.
• Implement user type allocation guidelines.
11.2.3 PROGRAMMING KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
• Expand programs and services in the areas of greatest need through continuation of best practice
partnership agreement in place with third party contractor with focus on equity.
11.2.4 FINANCIAL PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
• Evaluate current expenditures based on fee policy to meet cost recovery goals.
11.3 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
11.3.1 RECOMMENDED SIX-YEAR CIP FOR EXISTING COURT
• Reinvestment of the existing court system = $2.8 Million (or $400,000 annually).
o 2024: Post-tension concrete court conversion at Arapahoe Ridge and Columbine
Parks.
o 2025: Post-tension concrete court conversion at East Boulder Community Park and
Chautauqua.
o 2026: Resurfacing Knollwood.
o 2027: Post-tension concrete court conversion at Harlow Platts Community Park (South
Boulder Recreation Center).
o 2028: Post-tension concrete court conversion at Olmsted Park (North Boulder
Recreation Center) and North Palo Park.
o 2029: Post-tension concrete court conversion at Tom Watson Community Park.
o 2030: Post-tension concrete court conversion to be decided.
11.3.2 RECOMMENDED SIX-YEAR CIP FOR NEW DEDICATED COURTS
• Invest up to $7.1 Million in the development of new dedicated tennis and pickleball courts.
o Up to 16 new pickleball courts and up to 4 new tennis courts at East Boulder Community
Park.
o Up to 8 new pickleball courts and up to 14 new tennis courts at Valmont City Park (South).
o Up to 8 new pickleball courts and up to 4 new tennis courts at Tom Watson Community Park.
Boulder Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan
66
11.3.3 INDOOR RACQUET FACILITY – VISION ALTERNATIVE
BPR is unable to pursue an indoor facility with the current fiscally constrained funding scenario. The plan
recommends finding additional funding and a partner to explore options for indoor court facilities. Below
are 3 key strategies:
1. Continue to consider a potential short-term option and mid-term options such as an indoor
bubble with a donor or partner at East Boulder Community Park.
2. Develop a long-term funding plan for a bubble or permanent structure at Valmont City Park.
3. Identify opportunities to develop formal agency, government, and community partnerships
(such as Memorandum of Understanding, Request for Interest, Inter-Governmental
Agreements).
Donations, partnerships, and funding options can vary widely. Each option will need evaluation based on
factors such as system-wide prioritization, feasibility studies, and partnership value exchange
assessments. A funding plan or large partnership can include more than one type of recreation activity.
11.4 IMPLEMENTATION
This Court System Plan will inform decision-making related to the investment in, and the operations of,
the outdoor tennis and pickleball court system in Boulder over the next five to ten years. Operational
recommendations will be evaluated for alignment with the department’s annual strategic plan and
financial feasibility and then implemented over time. Staff will first focus on evaluating allocation
recommendations to optimize access to existing courts. Capital maintenance of the existing system will
be addressed through the department’s annual Asset Management Program. Visionary capital
improvement opportunities to expand the court system will be evaluated as funding is identified.
Appendix A
Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan
Engagement Summary – Window 1
October 2023
1
Boulder Parks and Recreation
Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan
Engagement Summary – Window 1
October 2023
Background
Engagement for this project is considered the Consult Level, based on the City of Boulder’s
Engagement Strategic Framework. The Consult Level means that the city will keep community
members informed, listen to and acknowledge concerns and aspirations, and share feedback on
how public input influenced decisions.
The target audience for this engagement is community members who currently play pickleball
and/or tennis on BPR courts. Prior engagement, research and policy will allow staff to balance
court service levels with other recreation service levels across the department.
In identifying a target audience for engagement, staff did not identify the need for language
access services such as translation and interpretation. The webpage and posters include a phone
number to request Spanish information. No requests have been received regarding this project.
Automated translation of the webpage is available through the city’s website provider. Staff will
continue to monitor and adjust if the need arises.
Engagement is structured in three windows for this plan so that community members can provide
feedback at specific milestones. After each window staff and consultants evaluate the feedback
gathered, bring a summary of feedback to PRAB and incorporate feedback into deliverables.
• Engagement Window 1: October 2023
o Goal: Share a Foundation of Information and Inquiry
o Associated Deliverables: Data Collection and Needs Assessment,
Recommendations and Priorities for current courts.
• Engagement Window 2: February – March 2024
o Goal: Evaluate Options
o Associated Deliverables: Visioning and Core Program Analysis, Space Allocation
Diagrams, Concept Development
• Engagement Window 3: April – May 2024
o Goal: Communicating Recommendations
o Associated Deliverables: Final Draft
2
Engagement Window 1 Summary
During the first of three engagement windows for this project staff requested community
member’s feedback on current court experiences and hopes for the future of courts.
Overall feedback received in Window 1 highlighted the communities desire for:
• Additional courts, especially given the growing demand for both sports and changing
supply of privately owned courts in the city.
• Dedicated courts for each sport
• Opportunities to play with family and friends, drop-in, leagues and organized play.
• Improvements to the current court conditions and reservation process
Communication Methods
To advertise the first window of engagement, the following methods were used.
• Posters hung at each court site.
• Email to project email group: Invitation sent September 22 and reminder sent on October
4.
o The email list grew from about 30 subscribers to 1333 during this engagement
window. All community members are welcome to sign up for these email updates
on the project webpage.
• Eblast – included in the Sept. 20, Oct. 11 and Nov. 1 e-blasts.
• Social Media – Posted to Facebook and Instagram on Oct. 2, Oct. 18, and Oct. 25.
o Oct. 2 reach: 882; likes and shares: 19.
o Oct. 5 reach: 831; likes and shares: 30.
o Oct. 18 reach: 1,138; likes and shares: 25.
• Stakeholder emails
o There was initially confusion about the difference between the Public Meeting
and the Stakeholder Interviews, which resulted in some stakeholders forwarding
the invitation to their memberships later than desired. This communication is an
area for improvement for future windows.
• Shared on the project website.
• Listed as an event in the citywide online calendar.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB)
Staff presented a project overview to PRAB in May 2023. At the November 2023 meeting,
PRAB reviewed the updated timeline and results from Engagement Window 1. PRAB
appreciated staff’s efforts to work productively with stakeholders, reach a sizeable portion of
tennis and pickleball players in Boulder, and understand the desire for dedicated courts as both
sports grow and compete for space originally dedicated only to tennis.
PRAB members wanted to know more about plans to make sure court locations and
programming are equitable and accessible. This includes outreach to make community members
3
aware of offerings, programming and equipment for underserved and those experiencing
disabilities, and physical access to the court sites.
Public Meeting
As a part of Engagement Window 1 (September to October 2023), staff hosted a public meeting
and launched a questionnaire. Nearly 180 community members joined this in-person meeting on
the evening of October 4.
Staff and consultants presented background information about the project process and current
court system.
Left: Ali Rhodes presents to community members at the Court System Public Meeting on
October 4.
4
Following the presentation, community members then had the opportunity to provide feedback
on desired amenities and services at courts through a poster activity. The questions asked of
attendees at the in-person meeting were also included in the online questionnaire.
Comment cards were available for additional feedback. The majority of the 40 comments
received expressed desire for more courts including dedicated courts, outdoor, grouped, indoor
and courts with other amenities. Many other comments proposed a specific solution or question
about the content and format of the meeting. A copy of these comments is included in
Attachment A.
Pictures of the final posters with feedback and charters summarizing this feedback are included
below for pickleball and tennis. Drop-in play and online reservations were the two most
important services for both pickleball and tennis. Attendees of both tennis and pickleball placed
high importance on grouped courts, while pickleball was most interested in dedicated courts and
tennis players most interested in indoor courts.
While the same questions were asked as part of the online questionnaire, the activity at the public
meeting called for community members to place stickers next to their top three priorities while
the online questionnaire asked community members to rate the importance of each amenity. This
change to the response structure may have contributed to indoor tennis courts being rated more
highly than other amenities at the public meeting.
Desired Pickleball Services
Desired Pickleball Amenities
5
Desired Tennis Service
6
Desired Tennis Amenities
7
Organization Stakeholders
Staff have met regularly with representatives from BOCO Pickleball and Boulder Tennis
Association (BTA) during the past year. Feedback we have received so far from these
stakeholders includes:
• Desire for additional courts to meet growing demand.
• Upcoming changes in the number of non-city courts in Boulder is anticipated to add
greater demand to the city courts (Development at Millenium, CU South)
• Desire for dedicated courts for both sports
• Desire for groups of courts at single locations to facilitate social play, drop-in, leagues,
and tournaments.
• Desire to explore public private partnerships for larger facilities.
Staff will continue monthly meetings with these stakeholder representatives throughout the
project. Notes from the discussions are shared on the project webpage.
PRAB member Andrew "Bernie" Bernstein joined stakeholder meetings as the assigned liaison
to this project.
Key Interviews
8
During October, PROS consulting conducted hour long interviews with key stakeholders and
staff. Interviews included organization stakeholders, staff involved in court programs and
maintenance as well as several players from the community who are not involved in BOCO
Pickleball or BTA.
Key takeaways from these interviews include:
• Currently, the tennis and pickleball communities look to the City to be the primary
provider of outdoor courts more so than indoor courts.
• A desire for dedicated pickleball courts.
• A desire to not share tennis courts with pickleball players due to the multiple lines on the
court and the inability to host sanctioned league and/or tournaments on those types of
courts.
• Generally, pickleball players would like multiple courts at one or two locations to
capitalize on the socialization benefit of the sport – did not define a number but referred
to South Boulder Recreation Center location as a good starting point.
• Tennis players would like at least five and up to 10 courts at one or two locations to
support leagues and tournaments.
• Outdoor courts are the preference for both user groups, though both indoor and outdoor
options are desired.
• A desire for indoor courts that are specialized for play instead of multi-sport lines on
existing gymnasium floors.
• Gonzo tennis would like to operate out of one location so as to not incur the additional
overhead and cost of operating multiple sites (storage, transporting of equipment, etc.).
• The reservation system and process should be overhauled.
Questionnaire
The online questionnaire was available to the public October 4 - October 18. Over 1400
community members responded to the online questionnaire.
Results are presented by question in this section. The open ended responses are included in
Attachment B.
Question 1: What sport do you play?
• Findings of this question show that this questionnaire was responded to by tennis and
pickleball players. Only 2 responses did not indicate playing either sport.
• A quarter of respondents indicated playing both sports.
9
Question 2: Desired Pickleball Services
• Online reservations, leagues and drop-in play were the three court services that
tennis and pickleball players most likely to consider very or somewhat
important. Pickleball players were more likely to rate drop-in play as very
important, followed by reservations and leagues.
10
Question 3: Desired Pickleball Amenities
• Both tennis and pickleball players responded that conveniently located and dedicated
courts are important.
• While courts located in neighborhoods and courts at varying locations in the city might
be seen as convenient by some players, conversations with organization stakeholders and
other community members clarified that convenience was often related to the parking and
transit options and a central geographic location.
11
Question 4: Tennis Services
o Online reservations, leagues and drop-in play were the three court services that
tennis and pickleball players most likely to consider very or somewhat important.
o Tennis players rated online reservations highly, followed by league and then drop-
in play.
Question 5: Tennis Amenities
o Both tennis and pickleball players responded that conveniently located and
dedicated courts are important.
12
13
Question 6: Time of Play
• Weekend and weekday mornings were the reported most popular times to play.
14
Question 7: Season of Play
• While Summer, Spring and Fall are the most popular seasons, 66% of players
report that they are likely to play in the Winter. The lower number of winter
players may be due partly to a lack of winterized facilities such as covered or
indoor courts.
Question 8: Who they play with
• While 94% of respondents play with family and friends, 55% of respondents
reported playing with BOCO pickleball, BTA or another organized group.
15
Question 9, 10 and 11: Current Experiences (Reservations, court condition and overall
experience)
• While nearly half of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall
experience with BPR courts, nearly half reported being neither satisfied or dissatisfied,
dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with court conditions.
• The reservation process shows room for improvement as well – In addition to the
software used, staff are aware that reservations often booked quickly for peak times
which may contribute to the dissatisfaction with reservations.
16
Question 12: Investment Priorities
• Respondents ranked adding new courts as the top priority. Improving daily maintenance
of existing courts ranked second. Enhancing amenities at existing courts (such as added
restrooms, water fountains, etc.) ranked third.
17
Question 13: Volunteering
• Onetime volunteer opportunities were the most popular. A large number of respondents
were also interested in events and shoveling snow.
• Interest in shoveling may reflect the desire to play outside and a lack of indoor
opportunities in snowy months.
18
Disability Access:
When asked what changes could improve access for those experiencing disabilities, 49
respondents answered with several common themes:
• Larger gates at the courts and access for wheelchairs could be improved.
• Parking, restrooms, lights and seating are desired amenities that could better
support those experiencing disabilities.
• The wheelchair tennis program at RMTC is highly valued and there is fear that
opportunity will go away. Indoor courts support a variety of benefits for those
experiencing disabilities.
Open Ended question:
As the final question in the questionnaire, community members were asked:
“Please let us know what you like about the current City of Boulder tennis and pickleball courts,
as well as any future hopes or concerns.” The most common themes that emerged from these
responses are included in this summary.
The open-ended comments will receive further analysis to better understand the nuances and
contribute to future deliverables.
19
• More courts: The most common theme that was mentioned in the open-ended responses
was a desire for more courts.
o Courts dedicated to each sport separately were the most common type of courts
requested.
o While outdoor play is the most popular, both indoor and outdoor courts are
desired, with a greater desire from tennis players for the indoor amenities.
o Location was one of the biggest factors that players considered in current courts
and future desired courts.
• Upgrades: While some community members noted the recent improvements to court
conditions, others noted that greater improvements to current courts are needed
Demographics:
The following are optional demographic questions to help the City better understand engagement
reach. These questions are standard citywide questions that are included in most engagement
questionnaires for all departments.
• The majority of respondents live within the city of Boulder, with nearly all
respondents living in Boulder County.
• 87% of respondents identified as white.
• Slightly more women filled out the questionnaire than men.
• The most common household age was 34-55 years old.
• Respondents were most likely to own their home and have a household income of
$150,000 or above.
20
21
22
Attachments
Attachment A: Comment cards received at public meeting October 4, 2023
Attachment B: Open ended responses to public questionnaire October 4-October 18, 2023
23
Attachment A: Comment cards received at public meeting October 4, 2023
Card Comment
1 Programs for low income kids
2 My priorities: -Accessibility/I'm in a wheelchair, -Accessibility should include wide gates, paved
entryways, ramps, -Indoor facility, it doesn't have to be state of the art. It can be a well-ventilated,
maintained, w. restrooms, -Upgrade current courts for wheelchair access. Question: Can the city think
outside the box in order to build a court facility? i.e. zoning regulations.
3 Tennis is a very social sport so having multiple courts together is important. IBM (Tom Watson Park) has
tons of land east of the existing tennis courts that could be used for dedicated pickleball or more tennis
courts.
4 Dedicated pickleball courts 4+ at each park. Large center would be nice like Apex in Arvada (24 courts).
Divider/fence between courts & waiting to play area.
5 Indoor courts!!!!! Thank you so much for the work in re-doing the courts. Tom Watson is lovely now!
6 On shared courts, dragging a pickleball net with locked wheels across the tennis court destroys the
surface!
7 Really appreciate what you're doing! Please do everything possible to separate tennis & pickleball
facilities. In addition to being NOISY, pickleball players do not seem to have a sense of court etiquette -
they regularly walk across tennis courts while a game is in progress, even when they could easily use a
different gate to access their court. Please consider adding lights to more courts - This would increase
capacity a little
8 We need indoor tennis courts! It's ridiculous that we have to drive to Arvada - Apex or LAC
9 We need more outdoor and an indoor tennis facility. PLEASE.
10 The pickleball community should learn tennis etiquette on shared courts. e.g. Don't cut across tennis
courts while in use to get to a shared court.
11 Sufficient parking at courts, including bicycle racks. Multiple courts in one location. Good maintenance
of which includes regular maintenance. Restrooms available at all courts. Court areas with trees for
some shade covered & indoor courts. Would have preferred a meeting that offered dialogue & questions
& answers.
12 How about a meeting with REAL dialogue with tennis community?
13 Tennis courts are more expensive than pickleball courts. Don't take away a diminishing resource by
allowing pickleball on tennis courts.
14 Commitment to replace current courts being removed by city council votes!!
15 We have heard great presentations of statistics, power points etc. what we need is pickleball courts other
cities are way ahead of you. Fastrack this!!
16 Why has city put off pickleball court construction from 2024 to 2025?
17 Stats are wrong. There are 32 mill pickleballers in US
18 I play any racket sport!! I am concerned about the converging forces - loss of total # of tennis courts
(RMTC, CU South) & at the same time use & demand. I would like to see Boulder with a city tennis &
pickle!! center where we can host events, tournaments, etc. What happened to the plan for Valmont??
19 Dedicated pickleball courts please. Top floor of parking garages? @ apartment complexes
20 I have a dream for: separate courts for tennis and pickleball and enough of each for everyone!!
21
Dear City of Boulder Staff: Thank you for the opportunity to voice opinions and wishes. Great Event.
One thing I would like to call to awareness is that with the very short notice of this event _ a couple days
- I think only a very small percentage of the pickleball community was able to be represented. Please
keep us appraised (BOCO club) of the process and upcoming opportunities to show perspectives again.
Thank you again,
22 I have been a member @ Rocky MT Tennis (Previously harvest house) for almost 30 yrs. But I also play
in Longmont, Erie, Louisville & Lafayette. Longmont & Louisville have better public courts than fancy
24
rich Boulder. (think Quail Courts). Also, Arvada has a wonderful tennis center (Apex). Boulder needs a
large tennis complex. At RMTC in the winter we have an indoor bubble. But it is very difficult to get a
court because CU woman practice there. We are in desperate need of courts!
23 Pickleball and Tennis cannot coincide with one another. The noise from fraternizing and the ball play in
pickleball is exceedingly loud and prevents fair match play in tennis. One needs to be able to hear "lets",
score calls and where a person moves.
24 Is the city coordinating at all w/the University? The loss of CU South is likely the death knoll for the CU
Women's Tennis team, which is so unfortunate!
25 Please restore 4 pickleball courts at NBRC. *Within the context of a negotiation/discussion with all
parties. Q: Could the courts be operative within certain hours? - As a compromise. Q: Could the city
install actual noise mitigation panels? A city-wide pickleball site w12-16 courts.
26 Would there be any possibility of developing courts for tennis near Pleasantview soccer fields? or on the
Prairie dog field @ 47th & Jay Rd? Tons of space!! Also, would the parks dept consider partnering with
RMTC to develop & maintain courts for the tennis program?
27 Port o' Potties at all courts.
28 CU South use that tennis as short term solution for millennium closing?
29 Please look at the successful model of Denver Tennis Park. BVSD has land (Nevin Platt for example).
CU needs a facility, has $. Community would support with philanthropy. Email me for more info on this.
I have run the numbers!
30 Nicely done but would prefer general Q&A so all get the same message on important questions! Thank
you
31 I am not convinced there really are more tennis players than pb players. My anecdotal evidence - tennis
courts by Eisenhower Elem are empty majority of the time
32 Courts in the south are occupied by pb players more than tennis - ug 4 to pb courts to 1 tennis court.
Would like to see more evidence/data on the numbers of people using public courts
33 The current system of shared courts is not working well. Pickleballers spread out across more courts than
necessary instead of having 2 pickleball groups on each tennis court.
34 Please create dedicated courts... When you paint the pickleball lines on tennis courts we can no longer
use them for league play officially. Additionally we can no longer play at South Rec - even when we
reserve a court to play tennis, we are met w/pickleball players who don't want to move & who have set up
camp/chairs...they consistently make rude comments etc. even though we've paid $ to play...
35 Why was basketball not mentioned? When pickleball started in Boulder 5-6 years ago we relied entirely
on basketball courts which can be turned in pickleball courts in 10 minutes!
36 Wheelchair tennis
37 Thank you for providing a forum to hear about why pickleball is highly valued and NEEDED by Boulder
Residents. I started playing at 70 years. No I'm a very healthy 79 year old! You can draw the
conclusions
38 We need more tennis courts! The ones at Centennial are cracking & need resurfacing. A better job needs
to be done. The current surface did not last. It has cracks and dead zones from ice under the surface. We
need more backboards to hit against!
39 As a family with a young tennis player, it has become impossible to use any of the tennis courts at the rec
center. Another hardship for families in Boulder.
25
Attachment B: Open ended responses to public questionnaire October 4-October 18, 2023
Please note that respondents’ names, emails and phone numbers have been redacted from
comments to provide privacy for community members. Comments are otherwise published as
received.
Responden
t ID
If you experience disability, please let us know any changes we could make that would improve
your access and experience for City courts:
1 benches and shades
2 I used to play tennis but had to move on to pickleball after an injury was suffered playing tennis.
Despite my advancing age, the slower ball and the smaller court size of pickleball allow me to
continue to be active in a healthy, fun and socially rewarding sport.
3 see 15 re color-blindness. Chairs would be very helpful, as I am in my mid-70s
4 Sometimes the gates on the tennis courts are a little bit narrow. Bigger doors would make the courts
more wheelchair accessible.
5 There are not any indoor facilities in Boulder that people can use in the winter once RMTC is taken
down. People are already beginning to leave to find other options elsewhere
6 Make them wheelchair accessible
7 Keep the courts away from residential areas or require them to be indoor facilities if they are in
residential areas.
8 Courts are too crowded; build more
9 I am concerned that there are not enough tennis courts that are lit for public access in Boulder.
10 Parking is not close enough to pickleball courts. Need sheltered area for inclement weather. Would
love a go-to manager position for pickleball and tennis. Seating options to watch players,
enhancement of access for more people to try and play. Good for mental and physical health because
when you are playing all you think about is playing and where to hit the next shot. You forget
everything else while you’re playing. The social aspect is equally important because you are
introduced to a new partner with every pickleball. It’s a win-win because it takes you away from
personal and work stressors, has a health benefit and you can new friends because in every game you
change partners if you play doubles - you come to know and recognize partners gradually by first
name only - and one of the most important benefits is you laugh often especially in pickleball. I’m a
non-athlete senior citizen who has witnessed all of these great benefits. Physical, social, all an
enhancement of daily life. New friends, better agility, forget about anything stressing you out for an
hour or more a day.
11 Note: ADA compliance does NOT equate to the needs of sport wheelchairs. Gates/doors need to be
wider than the ADA regulations as the camber of the wheels is greater.
12 Millenium tennis has had a great wheel chair tennis program. Where will these folks play?
13 Take pickleball lines off of tennis courts. Players with visual impairments cannot clearly see tennis
lines.
14 More courts
15 NA, other than age
16 I don't have a disability but cracked tennis courts are a tripping hazard and I am getting older and
don't want to fall
17 The chips and cracks in the courts, specifically at the east boulder rec center.
18 More drop in availability, and player adherence to time limit whether a court is reserved or drop-in
19 I have a blood pressure condition that is exacerbated by heat. It would be nice to have cold water,
shade, and more seating available on the courts.
20 It would be nice to see people with disabilities on courts playing but they play at RMTC which is
going away -
26
21 all courts should have bathrooms and benches to sit on.
22 This is so frustrating. I'm currently undergoing treatment for precancerous skin lesions--skin cancer is
common in sunny and active Boulder--and need to avoid direct sun exposure for the next couple
months. Unfortunately, I cannot reserve lighted evening courts because they are FULL. Pickleball is
my main form of exercise and social interaction, so this is doubly frustrating. We actually canceled
our household rec center membership due to the reduction in courts, so the city has lost our money.
We would re-join if the membership provided reasonable access to court reservations--esp. lighted
courts for evening play, and/or covered courts for daytime play--but for now it's just not worth it.
23 Build an indoor/outdoor tennis complex. There is too much done for cyclists, too little for tennis
players. Maybe brain surface of existing courts.
24 I'm partially deaf. Trying to play tennis close to very loud pickle ball courts makes it near impossible
to hear calls during the game. Tennis and pickleball really should be separated.
25 dedicated pickleball courts
26 Lights
27 We need a reservation process to allow handicap access.
28 I am handicapped from knee problems, but I can still play pickleball. There are not enough handicap
spots in parking.
29 I need full time access to water to drink.
30 good lighting on city courts would improve my ability to play in the evenings given my limited
nighttime vision. It would be great to have this on courts where league play is common (4 or more
courts, reservable for leagues), as leagues often run over into the darker hours.
31 I have many friends who are wheelchair tennis players. A new facility should be designed from the
point of view of making sure an athlete with disabilities is able to access every bit of the new facility
easily.
32 Making them safer would be a great start!
33 Our 7 year old has a number of developmental disabilities but is athletic and loves sports - tennis is a
huge interest! He’s easily distracted by the weather and would do so benefit from a consistent, indoor
place to play
34 Bathrooms
35 N/A for me. There are, however, many dedicated wheelchair players losing virtually their only site in
winter to play (RMTC) and few choices any time of year much less organized play.
36 Easier access
37 Neurodiverse. I'd like them to be more emphasis on play and recreation engaging my community.
Also, I did not like how the older pickle ball players tried to push themselves onto the tennis courts
and kick my teenagers off because they were adults?? Bad behavior and pushiness on the part of these
pickleball ladies.
38 I have a vision challenge and the excessive lines on courts (singles, doubles, jr tennis and pickle ball)
make it very challenging to play
39 More tennis courts and indoor. Many communities are stepping up to this. Arvada, Denver, and
Parker all have indoor public/ private ventures that are doing very well and are very popular without
the pickleball noise.
40 With the closing of RMTC and its large and famous wheelchair tennis program (2 para athletes
played at the US Open this year from RMTC) what will the city be doing to accommodate wheelchair
tennis and ADA access to existing courts?
41 Proper gate sizing and parking.
42 I don’t but see comments above about wheelchair tennis that is currently thriving at RMTC but faces
a grave future
43 too much to write at this time
27
44 there must be availability for wheelchair players and tournaments as now is the case at the RMTC.
45 Bathrooms close to courts
46 As I get older, it is harder to play as it gets dark. Please add more lights to courts.
47 More ADA parking, and wheelchair access to courts and bathrooms. Especially bathrooms.
48 Wheelchair players need easy access: wide gates, ramps, paved entry paths, dedicated handicap
parking, and handicap bathrooms.
49 While I do not experience a disability, I know that making courts accessible benefits everyone.
Responden
t ID
Please let us know what you like about the current City of Boulder tennis and pickleball courts,
as well as any future hopes or concerns.
1 That there are some pickleball courts.
2 Quite simply: The suburbs have beautiful facilities (Apex in Arvada!) and Boulder does not :(
With the loss of RMTC, our Boulder youth that want to improve themselves now have to travel there
to play indoors, that is unacceptable
Allocate the funds, identify the land (City of Boulder has a lot of it!), and build an indoor facility.
Simple as that.
3 The City has made a few upgrades to a few courts this year. YAYYYY!!! PLEASE continue to
upgrade and maintain the tennis courts we have and to add more. Tennis is alive and great exercise
for our community!
4 Pretty and collocated with facilities and amenities
5 South Boulder courts, East Boulder courts
6 I'm an avid tennis player and have been playing for the last 20 plus years in Boulder. The city courts
used to be very accessible and kept. I frequently play at my neighborhood South Boulder Rec Center
and occasionally at East. However, ever since the city made the tennis courts to do pickle balls, I
had a difficult time of getting the courts especially on weekends because of the pickle ballers. I work
during the weekdays, so weekends and evenings are my play time. Thus, I have to go to Fairview
High School's courts, which are run-down. I wish someone would redo and maintain those courts. I
strongly recommend that we build 8 sets of courts just for pickle ballers and bring South Boulder Rec
Center tennis courts back to tennis only. The extra lines of the pickle ball courts on the tennis courts
distract my focus and hinder my game. Thus, I have a tendency not to want to play at those city
courts, which are convenient for me and were very nice. I'm saddened by the changes. As for East
Boulder Rec courts, they are always hard to access because of the popularity of tennis in Boulder. I
strongly feel we need MORE TENNIS COURTS THAT ARE SEPARATED FROM THE PICKLE
BALL COURTS TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH POPULAR SPORTS. Boulder is a special place
that has 300 days of sunshine, which allows us to play outside even in the winter. Let's make Boulder
the happiest and fittest place in the nation by making outdoor sports accessible and nice for
everyone!! Thank you for listening. BTW, I like the recycling ball bins!
7 Pickleball is vastly more popular in Boulder than the facilities provided.
8 I like the North Boulder and East Boulder Rec center courts and the fact that they have lights. I’m
concerned about the maintenance of some courts, including the ongoing issues with cracking. I’m
also concerned about having enough courts for league matches that don’t have pickleball lines,
especially in light of losing RMTC and CU South. I’m concerned about pickleball taking over tennis
courts and would like an equitable solution to that issue. I very much hope to see a public indoor
tennis facility (much like Apex in Arvada) in Boulder in the future so that we can play all year!
9 Newly resurfaced courts
10 With the upcoming removal of approximately 15 tennis courts throughout Boulder, it's very important
that new tennis courts are developed. I think it's essential that we have indoor tennis courts in Boulder
28
as well, as there currently are none.
11 It is hard to like courts that crack within approximately 6 months of simply cosmetically touching up
the surface. Martin Park appears to be the only courts that were built correctly over the clay. Instead
of fruitless repainting and perhaps scraping the courts why not have spent the money on the courts
one at a time and repairing them by digging down at least 10 feet or however far is needed and
completely redoing the courts so the clay cannot cause the cracking that settling in clay causes.
12 When repairing courts pay the extra money to get them done right by a company that knows how to
repair courts for long term use. The courts at IBM were resurfaced but poorly done. Very uneven and
wavy. Some courts at different locations (not necessarily in Boulder) that were repaired or resurfaced
this year or last, are already cracking and the surface is peeling off.
13 That they exist
14 The condition is generally good. But there aren’t enough courts
15 I would really appreciate it if the city of Boulder would consider having a covered indoor facility with
dedicated tennis courts during winter time. Usually there are no options during the winter and it's
impossible to continue training during that time.
I'd like to see more beginner and intermediate leagues and easy sign up.
Also would like more pickleball lessons available.
16 Love drop in courts
17 There is a need for more dedicated tennis courts both outdoor and indoor with the ability to make
reservations.
18 More indoor courts
19 I particularly like the Knollwood courts, but of course they are the most recently redone (vs just
resurfaced). I don’t like that tennis courts are going away, and we’re losing other courts to pickle ball
(North Boulder Rec).
20 BOCO Pickleball is VERY welcoming and it's easy to drop in. I'm happy we often have 8 courts
weekday mornings at South. The court conditions are an embarrassment to our city both indoors and
out. Other towns and cities have caught on that this is not a fad and quickly replied with dedicated
courts, amenities. Boulder needs to catch up!
21 there are not enough tennis courts available. with the future of RMTC unknown, 13 courts are being
lost!
22 I am concerned about the decision to take away the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center courts. The City
Council has no idea how important those courts are for both members, and children's programs.
23 Unfortunately, Boulder has the worst accessibility to adequate and well maintained Pickleball courts
of any local community and worse than most out of state locations where I have played.
24 I don’t play on them. I play at RMTC, Centennial, and Lake Valley. Only RMTC courts are covered
in the winter.
25 Like that the current tennis inventory was repaired/improved and the PB lines at SBRC were
repainted a less intrusive color. That Fairview HS tennis Courts are accessible to the public again.
Hope that tennis will not suffer as a result of displacement of current inventory by pickleball and
extra noise due to congregation of large numbers of PB players and ball; strike noise pollution in
parks and public areas where one expects a certain level quietude. (i.e. Harlow Platts Park) Hoping
for SBRC 4 courts to be available again for league tennis as in previous years due to proximity to US
36, restrooms, and pick nick areas for after play potluck.
26 Location
27 Like having courts, would love to have lights!!!!!
29
28 Would love to see purpose built pickleball courts!
29 Haven’t played in a couple of years because players weren’t very friendly. I prefer team organization
and structure
30 Maintain and add tennis courts and not let them be fully taken over by pickleball; add indoor tennis
option
31 Would really like more dedicated tennis courts - the south boulder courts are always taken by
pickleball so martin acres is getting really crowded. Also a sign at Martin Acres saying you can
reserve courts online would be really helpful - a lot of people do not know this and it causes a lot of
conflict between those who reserve online vs those who just show up.
32 availability
33 more tennis courts need to be centralized in a central location, and we need to support indoor tennis.
there's a lot of potential or casual tennis players that would love to play more, but in the winter it's
very expensive and difficult to find a court time.
supporting USTA leagues and tournaments with a centralized bank of courts are important because
for tennis being able to play competitively is important to keeping people interested and building a
community.
34 The south boulder rec center courts have a good amount of courts and you can typically get a game in
or join an ongoing game. It could be improved by adding lights so people can play in the evening.
35 I like that it’s all pretty chill and free
36 I hope that maintenance of the present courts will be a priority. And that a few new courts may be
built.
37 I don't see any tennis court in the construction plans for New Vista High School to replace the two
that were torn out. Is there not going to be one? Those were the only courts in my neighborhood.
38 I hope for some dedicated courts; being red-green color-blind makes shared courts difficult
39 I don't like how are relating Tennis with pickleball, we are compete deferent animals, come on! As
tennis players we need our own courts as they were before.
40 We need designated tennis courts and designated pickleball courts. Sharing is not an option because
of the conflicting lines. Pickleball lines are not allowed for tennis league play. Tennis is social and we
need a large number of courts in one place - for league and social play. A new venue with at least 8
tennis courts is long overdue in Boulder.
41 Satisfactory until NBRC took out 4 PB courts and Gonzo lessons spilled into the remaining 4.
42 At this time, tennis courts are well maintained where I play (North Boulder), but often I need to travel
around to find an available court. The restrictions and poor conditions at Centennial courts have put
more pressure on city courts in the north part of town.
43 1. The seem well maintained
2. There should be separate tennis and pickleball areas as these don't mix well
3. The number of tennis courts should not be reduced; not converted to pickleball.
4. Not allowed uses should be enforced - such as skating
44 There are a good amount of courts at the south boulder rec center which is where I usually play.
45 There are not enough courts. How about building some at Valmont Park?
30
46 open play at North and South Boulder
47 Boulder public tennis courts have been well maintained, particularly recently.
I like the fact that outdoor play is possible year-round in Boulder. Some cities take the nets down in
winter.
East Boulder Community Center has the only practice wall for tennis on public courts. Please
incorporate practice walls in any new court construction and consider adding another wall or two to
existing public courts. EBCC court 5 should not have pickleball. They've torn up the court dragging
their nets around and shouldn't be able to reserve the only public tennis court with a hitting wall.
Pickleball only courts are less expensive than tennis courts to build. Given Pickleball's popularity
the city should construct a few. Given their expense, any new tennis courts should be for tennis only.
48 Some courts have been updated and resurfaced.
49 I appreciate that there are a number of courts spread throughout the city and I look forward to more of
them. Shade, restrooms, and water would be a major plus. Regarding pickleball, I think if that sport
had their own courts, that would be the best as it is markedly different in many ways. It is more social
with lots of talking and the sound of the ball is obtrusive. Short of having their own facilities, if they
had certain hours to play, perhaps that would be a reasonable solution.
50 Keep current tennis courts in excellent condition and initiate a plan to add additional and separate
pickleball & tennis courts.
51 I would like to see dedicated courts for each sport.
52 You take the South Boulder Rec and put pickleball courts inside the gym. Add squash on the
racquetball court. Keep the 4 outdoor courts. In the field to the north, you add 4 indoor tennis
courts. Now you have a racquet center that serves the community. Pickleball indoor and outdoor.
Tennis indoor and outdoor. The place would be used 24/7/365 in this town. Sincerely, 8 years tennis
professional for the City of Boulder. 34 years as a tennis professional, 13 years Director of Tennis,
13 years high school head coach. 34 years Boulder Resident.
53 I love how there is free pickup Pickleball. I really loved the class I took- I wish I could pay for
another class but they are challenging to sign up fast enough.
54 I appreciate being able to share the existing tennis courts with pickleball players
55 I know it must be hard to juggle all the priorities of the community, but it feels like tennis was put on
the back burner way too long. We need indoor and outdoor tennis courts.
56 I like that the City has set aside a lot of time for drop in pickleball. The City missed an opportunity to
create a public/private partnership to create a tennis complex. There is a total lack of indoor tennis
courts. Plus, the existing ones are generally in bad shape. Asphalt is a terrible material for tennis or
pickleball courts. The City needs to invest in post-tension concrete courts. A good example are the
courts in Devil’s Thumb neighborhood. They were converted from asphalt to concrete. Plus, there
should be a separate pickleball complex. Just visit SBRC courts to see why.
57 I like the geographic distribution of the courts. Losing RMTC will create a huge void for indoor
tennis.
58 Inexpensive compared with other options (I.e. The new indoor facility, Boulder Pickleball)
59 My main concern is the resentment shown by tennis players to pickleball players using tennis courts.
As long as pickleball players do not deface courts or change net heights, they should be able to
reserve and use available tennis courts. Mutual respect is usually the case, but occasionally we have
experienced undeserved rudeness. Perhaps signage at courts could address this. Thanks.
60 I like that there are a lot of courts around. I just wish there was a full list of the courts that people can
use somewhere.
61 Hopes - many more courts please. Boulder is way behind in # of courts compared to # of players. I
only play at SBRC outdoor courts because it is very organized ( thank you Carl) friendly atmosphere
31
and many levels of play available. Some days are just so crowded though. We need more outdoor
courts.
32
87 I like drop in time so that I can meet new people and experience a variety of levels of play
88 The city of boulder tennis courts brings together a community of tennis. I like East boulder rec center.
The other rec centers could use lights and more places for people to gather. Please give us more
options to play in the winter.
89 I like outdoor drop in times. I want the cracks fixed especially at South Boulder Rec outdoor courts.
Dedicated outdoor courts for Pickleball
90 I like how convenient they are to reach via bike
91 Boulder is one of the best communities in the nation. We have an amazing parks and open space
system that is mostly the envy of the rest of the country. That said, Boulder, compared to other
second rate communities in the surrounding area, has a truly pathetic offering of tennis and pickle ball
courts. It's just embarrassing. Have you seen what Arvada has? Boulder needs our own APEX
Center. Give me a break! If I didn't live in Devil's Thumb and have private access to what are
possibly the best tennis courts in the state of Colorado, my tennis life would be pretty dismal. I
would be driving around town looking for open courts, waiting incessantly to finally get time on a
shitty, cracked, weed strewn court, only to run out of time while 4 other people wait anxiously for me
to leave. Like I said, it's totally pathetic. Also, the tennis courts with pickle ball lines painted on
them with roll out nets is anything but a creative solution. This is garbage for tennis players and
pickle ball players alike. Tennis courts need to be dedicated for tennis, and pickle ball courts need to
be dedicated for pickle ball. Offering any kind of a hybrid experience is how everyone loses.
Considering this reality, every tennis court in Boulder should be returned to their original purpose as
just tennis courts, and the pickle ball community deserves their own facilities, with real lines painted
and actual permanent nets. In my opinion, this is not even debatable.
92 Hope BVSD will let us use any/all of the courts available at MS and HS. We need more courts with
ease in reserving them or at least opportunity to play with or without reservations on them. Tennis
folks are good at following the 1 1/2 hour rule for play time when others are waiting as well as
suggesting what other courts may be available.
93 NA
94 I like that Tom Watson was redone. I like that they can reserved. I like that east, north and tom
Watson have lights. I like the Columbine courts location and shade.
95 I like being able to make online reservations. I would like to see dedicated pickleball courts.
96 Like the online reservations for pickleball. I hope for more courts in the future with shade.
97 Group access
98 Drop in play
99 Keep more tennis courts available for tennis instead of converting to pickleball
100 I like that pickleball courts are now available.
101 I like the reservation system.
I have 2 future hopes:
- bubbled courts (i.e. covered so you can play in the winter)
- Better quality courts. Columbine and Knollwood are very good for example. Boulder north Rec
center is bad
102 More playing options
103 At SBRC, I love the multi-use courts and the great attitude of the pickleball players, in general.
104 for the most part the usage is good. The average user is older. Pickleball is a good community
service.
33
105 Good existing courts but more needed
106 Would love to get tennis courts with lighting and more indoor options for winter/fall/spring seasons. I
work full time so as the days get shorter, this is important to have so that I can play with other
community members who also work and can only play in the evenings.
107 General comfort facilities
108 We need more tennis courts in the city of Boulder.
109 Like how the courts are easy to schedule online. Would be wonderful to have more courts, as well as
have covered or indoor courts.
110 It’s good that we have the 8 courts at south. North needs at least 8 … as well as east.
We need designated new courts. Boulder county is so far behind all the other cities around us.
What has happened … my Boulder from 1975 to the present , used to be the leader in every sport and
major events. It’s very disappointing.
111 Appreciate that the courts were resurfaced and that there is organized groups that allow drop in
112 locations
113 Nice to have pickleball courts at all rec centers. Dedicated PB courts would be great. Cracks in
current courts are bad.
114 Would love more, well-maintained courts-with RMTC disappearing it is SOO needed. Wish? A
complex with indoor courts like a club, but public.
115 There is a severe lack of good Pickleball and tennis facilities in Boulder. The City of Arvada has
done a great job with building facilities for both sports.
116 I like the drop in play as well as the court reservations system. I do wish there was an opportunity to
cancel a reservation if need be. This also allows people who want to get on a court a chance to
reserve when all the courts show they are full.
117 I haven't played on most. I mainly play inside NBRC. They are fine. Could benefit from more
shoveling on outside courts.
118 I live in Boulder in the Summer. I think the cost of Rec Center which includes Pickleball is
FABULOUS. Great group plays Open Play in the evenings.
119 I like how convenient they are for us college students. Don’t have to worry about driving long
distancing at night. Safe. I’m concerned about commuting to practice if the location is moved.
120 More higher quality courts
121 Current reservation system is good. Open play at South during mornings allows options. Open play
that is leveled (beginner split from more advanced) helps separate players. We need more dedicated
courts away from housing.
122 I like that we have some courts… nothing like Longmont or Erie!
123 Love to play tennis so having the existing courts available for tennis
124 South Rec center courts are close to my home and often empty midday or mostly easy to reserve for
peak times.
125 They are pretty accessible and maintained.
126 I like that we have indoor courts and want to have access to indoor courts in the future
127 not enough pickleball courts, need dedicated pickleball courts preferably with lights and would be
great to have indoor or covered. no gym floor courts.
128 Improved courts. A pickleball complex with both indoor and outdoor courts
129 I love the drop-in and reserved play at SBRC
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130 Drop-in play
131 There is a lot of room to improve current facilities.
132 very well managed. always improving.
This survey is an example
133 Just like being able to go out and play. I'd would like rules for rotating games, so people don't just
play for hours without moving on.
134 Available to all. Fun way to meet people. Good exercise. Great atmosphere. Super grateful for all the
pickleball courts already available. I can see we will soon desperately need many more.
135 The current City of Boulder pickleball courts are a disgrace. I hope the City will build a dedicated
pickleball facility with facilities similar to Apex in Arvada.
136 proximity of North Boulder recenter
137 I like that we can reserve courts. I dislike open play with very competitive people. Open play should
be organized according to skill level.
138 North Boulder Play was great until you took it away due to noise
139 The open play builds community and is steadily growing
140 I really hope we can get some more indoor tennis courts.
141 Court surfaces and nets pretty much ok now that maintenance has been done finally. Hoping for
more courts available on/near west side of Boulder and better, more frequent maintenance.
142 None
143 They are in good shape, I’m worried about not having any indoor courts to play on next year. I hope
some new ones can go up soon.
144 I like the surfacing. They r all well maintained.
145 I like being able to play with my friends
146 shoveling courts is damaging the surface of the courts. I hope we have covered or indoor courts.
147 I like the indoor tennis courts
148 I like the indoor courts because they allow me to play the sport that I love year round. I hope that
indoor courts remain cheap and accessible to me as a college student.
149 We like that there are tennis and pickle courts, but want to see better maintenance of them. And we’d
like to get Manhattan courts back into the city’s jurisdiction (repaired, available to reserve, etc.).
An indoor tennis and/or pickle facility would be wonderful!
150 There's great places to play in the summer or when the weather is good.
151 Year round courts with bubble and more courts. Do not like to share with pickle ball.
152
East Boulder Rec center has a great set up and I like to use their facility. The North Boulder facility
the courts I have played on are deplorable and are just a law suit waiting to happen. The South
Boulder Rec Center used to be fairly good courts but have been taken over by pickleball 24/7 so it
seems. I love the Knollwood courts for their quality, seating, shade, and intimate setting.
153 I’m concerned with the demolition of the RMTC tennis courts and the lack of boulder tennis courts
because the CU Club Tennis Team relies on these existing facilities to practice.
154 My concerns for the future include pickleball taking over more of the already limited tennis courts.
Also, as a college club tennis player, having indoor courts for our practices in the colder months is
very important.
155 They’re generally kept in good order.
35
There are not enough pickleball courts at all.
156 I would like to see more Pickleball courts. There are a lot of tennis courts and very few Pickleball
courts. Most of the time at East Boulder rec center on weekend and weekday evenings, the pickleball
courts are both used, and only 1 or 2 tennis courts are used.
157 Indoor and accessible (bike, walk, etc.) courts are extremely important as there is no tennis in the
winter unless you are wealthy and belong to a club. I have played tennis in Colorado my entire life,
mainly Longmont and Boulder. I was the CU Club Tennis President from 2020-2022, not having
indoor courts for an entire community of students 50+ (more if we had indoor space) would be
drastic as the club team would have to limit the size of the team even more than we already have to.
158 I pretty much only play at Rocky Mountain Tennis, but it is good to know there are courts that can be
reserved when courts at RMTC are not available
159 Good accessibility for CU Club Tennis, as well as easy to find free pickleball
160 Some are very nice, but some are almost unusable
161 INDOOR COURTS please
162 The courts are clean, and I’m really good condition, which is hard to find here
163 More courts and better maintenance of existing courts!
164 I think the current system is really nice. It looks like pickle ball is significantly more popular and the
city has adjusted the courts. Also, when I want to play tennis, I can find a court.
165 I'm grateful courts exist; however, many are cracked, with weeds growing. I would like to see these
courts maintained a little better
166 More info on pickleball
167 We need some dedicated courts and a group of them for fun drop in play! Pickleball to me is about
drop in play & the friendly community. Boulder is WAY BEHIND the pickleball curve and it's too
bad.
168 Need separate courts for tennis and pickleball
Need more tennis courts at/near the East Boulder Community Center campus - as this seems to be the
most popular/in demand location for tennis, and has a very large community of regular users
169 Generally easy to access and get reservations. (Tennis)
170 DO NOT PUT PICKLEBALL NEAR EXISTING HOMES. The decibel level is approximately
72DB - see the 9news report on YouTube about pickleball noise issues and how pickleball severely
impacted homes and schools from 'quiet enjoyment' due to the incredible noise issues that were
'worse than gunshots'. One person said they would rather die of cancer than continue to live next to
the pickleball court that took over their local park.
171 I like the scheduling and hope it remains just as easy.
172 More tennis courts with lights so that league teams have a place to host other teams
173 I like the fact that we have some courts. More than anything, we simply need more courts with at
least a port and a potty.
174 I like it when the pickleball court usage is not near people's homes so that they do not have to listen to
the pickleball hitting the racquet.
175 We need more dedicated pickleball courts in the city. Lighted courts would be ideal if the budget
allows.
176 Just need more of them!!!!
177 Indoor facility
178 The courts at East Boulder are incredibly beautiful, have restrooms and shade. Would love to see an
expansion of these courts.
36
The fact that there are no restrooms at Centennial Middle School courts, home to BTA league and
Little League baseball blows my mind. Please fix this.
179 Updated n Boulder courts
180 The people who play tennis and pickle ball are awesome
181 I play at East Boulder Rec most often and like those courts a lot. I wish pickleball wasn't on the
backboard court so much as I like to hit on the backboard. What I want most in Boulder is an indoor
tennis center or an indoor / outdoor center. Something like Apex in Arvada would be amazing and is
sorely needed in Boulder. There are tons of tennis players here and we have very limited options 8
months out of the year. RMTC is probably going away and Meadows has a year’s long waitlist so
demand is there!
182 Courts in great shape.
183 Court conditions are terrible. Combined with pickleball, leaves few options
184 Need to have more courts!
185 I love that we have several to play on, but future concerns include not having enough or getting more
taken away due to noise.
186 close to home
187 I enjoy open pickleball play at South Boulder Rec Center which is available every morning on the
tennis courts. There are 40 or more people every morning, which is fabulous, but more courts are
needed. An outdoor bathroom/porta potty near the courts would be appreciated too. Thank you!
188 Glad they exist...it ends there
189 I hear players well before 7:00 a.m. in warmer months, I live close by. Is that allowed?
190 drop in pickle ball is so hard to find
191 Tennis is my life. Please don’t take that away from me. Here are some points for you to consider:
We should not sacrifice tennis to pickleball. Tennis is the 4th most popular sport in the world and has
prestigious and historically, economically, and culturally important events like the US Open and
Wimbledon that have inspired generations of passionate players. Pickleball is growing in popularity
but is still nowhere near as popular as tennis.
Tennis competition provides excellent physical and mental development for kids, the chance to
compete in a high level sport, and even college scholarships. Kids are motivated and inspired by
dreams of competing in college and even professionally. No such opportunities exist for pickleball,
and they are unlikely to develop, even if junior pickleball develops.
Tennis is the most important women's sport in the world. Women tennis players make more than
female athletes in any other sport, and it provides one of the best opportunities for girls to compete in
a college sport and even earn a college scholarship. Girls in Boulder will not have a chance to
participate in tennis if we don't add at least 20 more dedicated tennis courts, and at least 12 indoor
tennis courts soon.
Boulder has recently lost most of its courts to development or pickleball, including 5 courts at
Williams Village, 2 courts at New Vista High School, 5-10 courts at the Boulder Rec Centers, 1 court
at Chautauqua, and it will soon lose 12 courts at CU South. Meanwhile, tennis is growing in
popularity. We desperately need more dedicated tennis courts to meet the growing demand for tennis.
Tennis and pickleball should be played on separate facilities. Tennis requires smooth, level, high-
quality courts with a true bounce, and indoor tennis requires high ceilings. Most pickleball is not
played with precision and could likely be played in parking lots. Indoor pickleball can be played in
37
structures with a low roof. High quality tennis courts should not be sacrificed to pickleball, as
pickleball play does not require these high quality courts.
192 reservation system is good. I really hope permanent restrooms can be added and well serviced
193 Covered courts for winter play would not only allow year round exercise, but also protect the state of
the courts!
194 That they exist
195 I love our local community courts. We need an indoor court since many of us can't afford country
clubs. I take lessons at Rocky mountain tennis association in the bubble - which is going away.
196 More dedicated pickle ball courts
197 Great exercise and meeting lots of new people
198 I appreciate that there are any courts to play on and that there are so many people in Boulder who
love to play tennis.
199 The city of Boulder has fallen behind other communities, regarding their commitment to " dedicated
PB courts ". Simply putting nets on a tennis court, while NOT maintaining the courts or nets does not
create a good environment for future PB. The city needs to build " dedicated outdoor PB courts at the
East Rec center, since there is ample space to build courts. This would eliminate any noise issue,
while providing ample parking and other amenities.
200 A place to get together with tennis friends. The main concerns are the number of courts with several
in town set to disappear in the next few years. The fact that Boulder does not have a nice public
facility with 10+ courts when Longmont, Arvada and Denver do is baffling
201 We need some dedicated pickleball courts.
Our tennis courts are cracked and not maintained.
202 The SBRC drop in is really awesome. We get people from north boulder. It would be great to make
this an official institution
203 We have some pickleball courts. That is good.
They are not very good pickleball courts. We need better pickleball courts. We need more pickleball
courts. We need dedicated pickleball courts with proper nets and proper dimensions. There is not
enough room between courts and players have gotten injured tripping over the tennis nets. Some
players have become entangled in the tennis nets while moving backwards and getting feet stuck
beneath the tennis nets. Tennis nets do not belong on pickleball courts. We need dedicated pickleball
courts
204 Like open play
205 Like: The interest the city and pickleball community are showing in communicating to create the best
served public facilities.
Future hopes: Through amicable negotiation, the 4 pickleball courts taken at North Boulder Rec
center
will be restored.
Future hope: The city will build a dedicated pickleball facility with a large number of courts. City of
Santa Barbara CA built dedicated pickleball courts to their public tennis facility. They might be a
good model to research/learn from.
206 They are close by. But there are NOT enough courts so reserving is very hard The courts are in so
condition.
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207 Just having what we have
208 It would be nice for the city to have designated Pickleball only courts. Longmont has six of these
courts and they are beautiful!
209 I like how our community has come together in a new way and grown through pickleball, I am
concerned that there are not enough courts to support the demand and also that there are not dedicated
PB courts. Boulder is the only community in the area that does not and it would be our residents who
would benefit from additional PB courts and amenities.
210 Please support separate tennis courts and pickleball courts - tennis players do not want to see
pickleball lines on the tennis courts.
211 I would like to see some separation of tennis and pickleball to maintain the availability of tennis and
have fewer tennis courts with additional lines painted on them for pickleball
212 Be nice to have dedicated pickleball courts. The facilities have pickleball courts overlayed on tennis
courts. Some have tennis only courts that I’ve yet to see used by tennis players and I played every
weekend.
213 I loved being able to walk to North Boulder recenter when the courts were filled with Pickleball AND
tennis players. I am extremely disappointed the city took such a drastic measure and cut the Pickleball
courts by 60%. However, I do agree that Pickleball need their own dedicated courts as we are the only
community in this area with not available. Leading community members to travel to outside areas like
Superior, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette etc.....being detrimental to the environment, and adding to
existing issues such as traffic. I think if the city created a 10-14 court dedicated to Pickleball facility
with lights and some roof coverage, like an industrial tent, Pickleball players would be more than
happy.
214 More Pickleball courts
215 I like the fact at South Boulder during summer your PB groups are large and well-coordinated
216 Your survey and the "public meeting" both overlook the primary issue - when can new dedicated
pickleball courts be built and open for use? Check out all the surrounding cities - they all have found
land, funds, contractors and opened dedicated courts that do not upset neighbors. Please stop the
nonsense of public meetings and surveys that do not address the issue and put all that energy into
building new courts on a fast Track.
217 More lighted courts
218 The East Boulder Rec outdoor pickleball markings on the ground for the net are NOT correct. Please
fix.
219 Concerning that, between the loss of the RMTC club, and CU South, Boulder will lose 27 courts.
Without a significant investment, Boulder will lose tennis players to other communities - and the
dollars they spend in that city. There’s been no significant tennis facility constructed in decades.
Meantime, Longmont, Parker, Arvada, and other communities have built facilities (some
public/private) that show an interest in tennis.
Many of us who play tennis in Boulder (and then spend money in Boulder) don’t live in Boulder.
If Boulder is interested in keeping us, it will build a first-class facility or two large enough to make up
for the impending loss of courts. If not, we have other options.
220 Pickleball play in Boulder is very inclusive and a strong community is forming. However, the number
of pickleball players in the city continues to grow significantly while the number of available courts is
shrinking. Converting current courts to designated pickleball courts should be a part of the plan.
221 Drop in options - need more hours, lighting, ease of access -appreciate all that’s being done for
pickleball - need more indoor and outdoor drop-in access and options
222 Many other courts nationwide have a drop in system where you sign up at the courts; people play one
game and rotate out; can then drop in with others who need partners; hate the reservation one week
in advance max
223 I like that pickle ball is offered at NBRC, but I am disappointed by the condition of the
courts/nets/availability due to popularity of the sport. Dedicated outdoor pickle ball courts (many of
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them) would be a great asset to the city.
224 I like how the courts can be both tennis and pickleball but the number of pickleball players has grown
so much, now when you go to south Boulder drop in, you might wait 25 minutes to get in a game. We
need more courts
225 There is a huge need to build an indoor facility in Boulder for tennis
226 I like the sense of community playing tennis at East Boulder Rec Center, and I like the drop-in pickle
ball at South Boulder Rec Center. We had played tennis for a long time at South Boulder Rec Center
because it is close to our house but it felt like there were significant safety concerns playing tennis at
SBRC while surrounded by pickleball players (e.g. some new pickle ball players would run onto our
court in the middle of a play to retrieve balls or would not tell us when a ball was on our court or
would walk around the back of our court). I felt like I always needed to be alert for an accident so we
decided to move to EBRC and have enjoyed the sense of community there. So now I'd appreciate if
the EBRC could be maintained in order to keep them safe.
227 There aren't enough tennis courts and they're not being maintained.
228 Free drop in south Boulder
229 More courts, including indoor
230 I enjoy playing pickleball on public courts in the City of Boulder. Highest priority is having sufficient
available court space/time.
It is ironic that BPR instructional programs take away a significant amount of available court
space/time while creating new players for whom there is not sufficient court space/time. BPR should
recognize and address with both sides of this supply/demand reality. Otherwise, it is not serving the
community well and not creating good will amongst its constituents -- just the opposite. When you
find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging.
231 I primarily play tennis, and I appreciate the ability to reserve courts online, but I think the online
rental platform is very difficult to navigate. The old online reservation was better, and I encourage
the city to shift to a different online platform. I also appreciate courts that are dispersed throughout
local neighborhoods. City should continue to maintain those courts and add courts dispersed
throughout the community. I support dual usage of some of the courts for Tennis and Pickleball (but
maybe not all the courts should be dual usage).
232 There are public courts for people to play for free
233 There are not enough permanent pickleball courts, not shared on tennis courts.
234 Hope for more pickleball courts.
235 Not much, I think that Boulder has really dropped the ball(s) on management of its facilities. Do
better. Take care of your courts, separate pickleball and tennis with dedicated facilities for each sport.
The city would benefit economically by having thriving tennis and pickleball scenes, with
tournaments and leagues and drop ins. It is time for the city to allocate capital to the future of these
sports rather than just depending on the existing and aging infrastructure and depending on other
communities to fill in the gaps.
236 I like that you have resurfaced IBM and Palo park. Thank you. I’d like to see separate courts built at
separate locations for pickle ball. I’d like to see more courts built for tennis. An indoor facility for
tennis would be nice, but I know it would be very expensive.
237 Having 8 pickleball courts at both North and South was critically important to relieving the pressure
and wait times for those courts. It is problematic that half the courts at North had to be closed, so I
view replacing those four courts as urgent. Secondly, I would like to see at least 6-8 dedicated
pickleball courts in Boulder and wondering what happened to the capital funds designated for four
such courts at EBCC? Thirdly, as requested above, making improvements such as permanent
restrooms, seating, and shade at all locations is a priority.
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238 We need several true pickleball courts, not modified tennis court with roll on nets. The city is behind
every neighboring city in the area.
239 Courts that are dedicated to Tennis. Pickleball should be indoor or have their own courts.
240 The courts are in pretty good condition for city courts. It is difficult to play tennis on courts with
pickle ball lines so it would be great if separate courts could be maintained. It would also be great if
the city could build indoor courts, similar to the APEX tennis center in Arvada.
241 I especially like the outside courts at north boulder rec. the location and lighting. I am disappointed
that 4 pickleball courts were eliminated
242 Since we are losing or have lost many courts like Baseline courts (CU construction), Harvest House
courts (sold for CU living), CU South courts (When CU expands there). There is a dire need for
tennis courts!!! It seems that outside companies are building indoor/outdoor pickleball courts but we
are losing tennis courts. It’s important to me that sports such as these can be played by all
socioeconomic levels. When all kids have sports they can play for little money, I believe our society
benefits in so many ways.
243 I would like tennis to be prioritized more than pickleball.
244 convenience
245 I feel blessed to be able to play pickleball surrounded by amazing views on nice, well maintained
courts throughout Boulder. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to both exercise and socialize
safely.
246 Na
247 I only have used the city courts for tennis league matches. I hope for the future to have recreational
pickle ball options.
248 Sure hope for dedicated PB courts. Concerned there are not enough courts now or in the future. Right
now there are many city residents traveling to surrounding communities just to be able to play
249 Availability. I hope dedicated pickle ball courts can be provided.
250 I've played at Autry and Boulder rec. Both were good experiences but would love more options
251 I love that Boulder constantly seeks to enhance recreational facilities. We are lucky to live here.
252 I hope that the current courts will be repaired, at the very least.
253 A quart is one block from where I live
254 I like that there are courts relatively available across the city.
255 I like the existing courts, but not with pickle ball stripes on them nor playing next to pickle ball
players.
256 I play at the North Boulder Rec Center and like the condition of those courts as well as the fact they
have lights.
257 Boulder’s reservation system and communication of existing facilities/courts is not very clear- many
of our tennis courts particularly tied to middle schools are in disrepair and an embarrassment when
hosting league play, I find myself going to Westminster or Lafayette for a dependable reservation
process and maintained courts- and the option of lit courts. My concern is that the number of
available tennis courts is being diminished with new construction (Williams Village) and with switch
over to racquetball.
258 I usually play in Longmont because there is more access to pickleball courts there, and that's where
some of my pickleball friends live.
259 Convenience of having courts at our Rec Centers
Reservations are a must!!!
We need more courts for Pickleball
260 Gonzo Tennis has done an amazing job getting people into the game - making entry fun and exciting.
And they provide a wide range of opportunities.
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There is a real need for quality tennis courts. There is so much demand - existing courts in many
places are dilapidated. The community needs places to play tennis and we know the value of this
sport - the science behind it is established and the community needs this sport to thrive - physical,
emotional and mental fitness are essential for ALL individuals and the community itself. Tennis is a
big part of that!
261 I like the coin operated lights at some of the city courts. I also like RMTC and CU South tennis courts
- I do not think that the City of Boulder should have made a deal to allow them to be bought and
turned into more, unnecessary development. In the future, I hope the City of Boulder decides to
reconsider doing this. I also hope that the City of Boulder will provide courts that check all the boxes
that these two facilities did. CONVENIENT LOCATION, well maintained (no cracks, covered
benches on court, etc.), good view of mountains/boulder/boulder creek, LOTS of courts, options for
membership, separate from pickleball courts (it is loud/distracting), etc. Currently, it is impossible to
find courts in Boulder during prime times. The demand is there for tennis and people who live in
Boulder are having to travel to surrounding cities just to play tennis.
262 Concerns are the lack of playable courts and winter play
263 I like that it’s not too expensive to reserve courts. I hope some of the Pickleball courts become fully
dedicated to Pickleball, the tennis lines are too similarly colored and are confusing while playing
Pickleball.
264 I love having Silver Sneakers to lessen court rental expense. It is important to have 5 courts available
to participate in USTA seasonal leagues, even for us tennis folks in our 70s and 80s.
265 There should be separate tennis and pickle ball courts as the two sports are not compatible. The
growing conflict b/w tennis and pickle ball can best be remedied by first building more pickle all
courts. Tennis courts were built for tennis and there are not enough of them to handle the current
increase in use. Thank you.
266 Please keep tennis string. Pickle ball is taking over!
267 Please look at Apex in Arvada for a model of a public tennis facility.
268 Tennis is a great lifelong activity that gets people outdoors and moving around!
269 We need a beautiful large tennis center and pickle ball center for our community in Boulder. How
about building it across the street from the Valmont Bike Park?
270 I like that some courts, particularly the Tom Watson, have been repaired and are now very nice to
play on. My biggest hope for the future is an indoor tennis facility.
271 I like the tennis courts at Martin Park, Knollwood, and now the recently resurfaced courts at Palo
Parkway. It would be nice to have at least a port-o-potty but I can live without.
The rec center courts are awful. My hope is a nice indoor facility like Apex in Arvada.
272 I love Tennis and pickleball! Thank you for this survey and the courts.
273 I like the tennis courts, but since pickleball is very noisy, it is nice to have them separate.
274 The tennis situation is dire with the loss of RMTC and possibly CU South. My daughter has taken
tennis lessons with RMTC and Gonzo. I played tennis in college and enjoy recreational tennis with
friends and family now. Boulder should invest in a tennis facility like Apex in Arvada. I'm new to
pickleball but find that it is a great way to socialize and exercise with people of all ages and abilities.
The city needs separate courts for both of these growing sports.
275 Concerns: (1) finding avail courts, (2) low quality of some courts (e.g. SBRC).
276 Private courts at clubs are too expensive. We need more public courts available everywhere.
277 Love the revamped tom Watson courts! Really wish there was a covered option for the winter. Also,
wish tom Watson had netting to block the pine needles.
278 With RMTC in its last year of providing the bubble and impossible wait lists for clubs in the area,
there is a big need for a winter solution for tennis courts.
279 I like that they are an option for league play and for youth clinics. My hope is the cracks can be
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reduced and that pickleball at NBRC does not completely crowd out tennis use.
280 I am grateful for being able to access Gonzo tennis on city of boulder courts. The Gonzo coaches
have been instrumental in me learning tennis, getting outside frequently, building my fitness level,
and reducing stress in my life. I’m very disappointed in the quality of courts in Boulder and lack of
permanent bathrooms at some of the locations. More regular maintenance needs to occur. Also it’s
really confusing to play on tennis courts that have been lined for pickleball. Only a non-tennis player
would think this is a good idea. I think boulder and Longmont should partner to build a public tennis
club with indoor and outdoor courts half way between boulder and Longmont. Most of us can’t afford
the boulder country club and the wait list at the meadows is upwards of 7+ years. And Rocky
Mountain Tennis club isn’t going to be around for much longer.
281 Greater support of USTA leagues
282 The tennis courts at Boulder Rec south are nice.
283 Love that we have east Boulder rec for tennis but with news of CU south complex and RMTC courts
being demolished I’m afraid there will not be many courts left. Boulder county is one of the top most
active tennis communities in the nation. We need tennis courts desperately and if we can get an
indoor public complex that would be even better to improve tennis access for all, not just those that
can afford a country club membership.
284 Improvement to Centennial courts was positive. Could add some mixed pickle ball to Centennial!!!
285 Keep the harvest house bubble and courts
286 Model it after the Arvada Apex tennis complex. That facility is beautiful and it appears to do very
well with lessons and turnout.
287 I would love to see expansion of year-round recreational leagues, including beginner levels.
288 I like playing tennis on city courts that are available. We need more courts in Boulder. We need more
lighted courts and more accessibility
289 We would love to have a tennis center in Boulder like they have in Arvada - Apex tennis center
290 Love the Centennial courts
291 Honestly, I play mostly in East Boulder County (Lafayette & Erie). I truly love the sport and look
forward to checking out courts in Boulder too! More courts would be awesome!! Thank you!!
292 A community like Boulder needs to have indoor public courts. Six or more.
293 Have played at Millennium courts for years. Disaster that they are closing. Many players will be lost.
Have found it hard to get a city court for tennis. Also, just taking up pickleball, and find it hard to get
a court. Generally have found city tennis pros to not be geared to higher level players. Local pros
should be able to teach private lessons on courts reserved by their clients.
294 Dedicated Court time
295 I don't have a clue where Boulder pickleball courts are other than East Boulder dual purpose. The
courts are pretty old. The University courts are beautiful and the City ones not so.
296 we need indoor courts
297 Well it is all pickle ball at my 4 courts in my neighborhood that is 1 block from my house. I have to
go to the high school or north boulder to play. Kinda bums me
Out.
298 I would like to see public courts that are in better conditions
299 Availability of courts is good but in the winter there is insufficient indoor court availability. I hope
the RMTC bubble can be used at an alternative location starting winter 2025
300 Reservation system
301 I like the indoor courts for the winter, but they should be available at better times during the day.
302 Tennis courts should not be shared with other racket sports, e.g. pickleball. We need more tennis
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courts and some designated pickleball courts.
303 There are good amount of courts, but they don’t have proper maintenance- mostly badly installed nets
or poorly redone surfacing. Also, not enough courts with decent lights. The lights that exist make it
unpleasant to play on at night. Also, no indoor courts. Arvada has Apex and that facility is awesome.
304 Add more courts and tennis programs to replace RMTC. Also covered courts for Winter would be
amazing!
305 The best thing is that it's nearly free, and easily accessible via bike (for me, anyway). And the
reservation system is pretty clear and simple.
306 Existing courts are great for the most part, but we desperately need new indoor courts. Only options
once RMTC goes away are not only private and expensive but require 5+ year waiting list for
membership.
307 Location and conditions
308 I am not happy that the Harvest Courts will be closed, especially the bubble. Boulder needs a good
tennis center with indoor courts.
309 Concerned that the growing popularity of pickleball will not take over courts for current league play.
310 I like the courts at the middle school. I like them because they exist. I grew up in flint, Michigan.
Even we have more (and better maintained) tennis courts than Boulder, CO
311 Love that I can make reservations at avail courts. Would like to see dedicated pball courts, both
outdoor and indoor. I feel Apex pball courts are a good model.
312 Pickleball is bringing more participation amongst a more diverse population. Love the drop in. Love
to see the city have indoor tennis courts.
313 I really value the tennis courts that are ONLY tennis courts. Especially with RMTC closing, it is
extremely important to have dedicated tennis courts for the community.
314 We need to take care of the courts that we have! The courts at Manhattan are terrible. East Boulder
is good but can use some touch ups. Unfortunately, the courts are NBRC are no longer playable for
tennis with all of the pickleball lines.
315 I wish there were more courts.
316 I love convenience of some courts, but sad that noise has caused a pullback in number of courts
available. Also love PB community that City of Boulder fosters. Wish courts and nets could stay in
better shape or be maintained better.
317 Many existing tennis courts need to be resurfaced- patching and repainting isn’t enough.
Pickleball and tennis require separate facilities- sharing invites conflict and the multiple lines are
annoying for both sports.
318 Hopeful for indoor courts for year-round use.
319 I like that the Tom Watson courts were recently resurfaced! There's just too many pickleball lines on
the courts so we can't use them for USTA tennis any more.
320 pickle ball drop in has been great fun would love more courts. I play less tennis now
321 I use nbrc pickle courts. Like being able reserve. Like having other pickleball games going (errant
balls not an issue between Like sports)
My hope is that City will "audit" actual usage. My anecdotal impression of change at nbrc (reducing
courts by half) is that instead of 12-16 people recreating, there are commonly 0-2 on the now only-
tennis courts
322 Frustrated with amount of tennis courts being taken over by pickleball.
323 1) There aren't enough tennis courts. Given the size of the city and the importance to residents of
staying active, there simply aren't enough tennis courts and it is incomprehensible that there are no
indoor tennis courts. 2) The existing tennis courts are in poor condition - there are often horrible
cracks on the courts, there is rarely seating, shade, water, lights or permanent restrooms. It is
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dangerous to play in the summer with no shade, water or seating. It is embarrassing to host league
matches in Boulder given the condition of the courts.
3) With RMTC closing, there would be even fewer tennis courts available in town.
4) With tennis courts being used for pickle ball, the court availability for tennis players is really
shrinking.
WE NEED MORE TENNIS COURTS and WE ALSO NEED INDOOR TENNIS COURTS
PLEASE!!!
324 I love being to play at the rec centers, I play at North, East and South. I hope there will be more
courts and possibly dedicated pickle ball courts. The addition of shade, seating and water fountains
would highly enhance the current courts.
325 largely good compared to other big cities or places around the country. A public indoor facility with
enough courts to be accessible for most would be amazing
326 Covered courts for year round play.
327 The east boulder CC courts are the best.
328 I grew up on the city courts and now coach around Boulder! They were great for me growing up and
hope to see them back to what they were separate from pickleball.
329 EBRC courts are good quality last time I played. Would be good to have more like that, and a
reservation system.
330 Not much good to say. Courts are not maintained well.
331 The courts are well maintained and I'm glad they are popular. As primarily a tennis player I find it
hard to find an open court given the popularity of pickleball. I think pickleball is amazing and that it
can co-exist with tennis, but access is hard. I usually end up going to Centennial rather than playing
on City of Boulder Courts. I'm very concerned about the access to courts given the development plans
for CU South and Rocky Mountain Tennis Center. I think these will be big losses, especially RMTC
with its indoor courts. My son is 10 and just getting into to tennis. We've already encountered
difficulty getting on courts. I'm worry that the challenge of getting a court will turn him away from
the sport.
332 With the loss of Rocky Mountain Tennis Center Court, we will need more courts. There are many
that play and Boulder has done a poor job at creating tennis opportunities.
333 I like the leagues at the Rec Center for Pickleball. I think it is lame how weeds are growing up all
around the courts to the point players are losing balls in the weeds for a City as well funded by tax
dollars as Boulder.
334 That there are multiple laces to play tennis in Boulder. Also most courts are in good shape.
335 I think there should be more opportunities to play singles matches. Denver and other cities have a
tennis league that is incredibly accessible, and allows people to schedule matches themselves.
336 Usually in good physical condition
Availability is decent, could be better
337 I like the combination of Drop-In play and being able to reserve courts. The loss of 4 courts at North
puts a lot more pressure on court availability. There are some noise reduction options coming onto the
market that should be explored. My main hope is that the city gets behind building a significant
number of dedicated courts, 6 or more, at one location. If the City can't afford to do this, a
public/private partnership should occur to make this happen in the short term. I think it's just
unacceptable that we don't find a way to do this in the short term. Boulder is full of creative thinkers
who can make this happen. I think we need to think outside the box on this and not be limited by the
Rec Dept budget limitations. Court condition is an issue for sure, but we live with it and get by.
Building more courts is a bigger priority.
338 Dedication of players
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339 Open Play. I hope the extent to which court time is dedicated to open play continues a top priority and
is extended to weekends.
340 Good locations
341 I like that the city recognizes that there is an unmet demand for racquet sports and is working to
identify how it can help. Being listened to feels good and is so important! Though it can be tough to
get on a court when one wants to play, I have enjoyed meeting the other players out there. It's a
congenial group of people for the most part.
342 I hope for indoor courts
343 I like how many courts there are between south Boulder CU courts and the harvest house courts. It
would be a shame to tear either of those facilities down.
344 Rmtc will be closed due to the student housing plan. We like to have it relocated to somewhere in
boulder, to give our kid a convenient place to learn tennis
345 Distributed throughout the city
346 Appreciate the courts with lights and reservation system. Would like to see additional courts on the
east side of town
347 Love the East Boulder Rec Center Courts: they are in good shape, they have lighting and like the
reservation system.
It would be wonderful to have an tennis center like Arvada with indoor options to play all year. Or a
bubble on existing courts would be next best.
More courts with lights for nighttime play would be great.
348 Knollwood tennis courts are in great shape. Not sure where to even play pickle ball in City
349 Pickleball is taking over the limited existing tennis courts
350 We need more indoor tennis courts for the winter. Also, please do not remove tennis courts to convert
them into pickleball courts. They are two different sports and the trend of pickleball should not
cannibalize the long standing sport of tennis.
351 I like the locations and that some of the courts are being resurfaced. I'd love to see more courts built
because many locations I frequently go to only have two courts available.
352 There is such a big tennis community in Boulder with extremely limited courts. Boulder needs a lot
more courts to serve the communities needs
353 We desperately need more indoor courts - kids who hope to play tennis seriously can’t access the
private clubs due to costs and waitlists. Losing the thriving kids program at RMTC is devastating.
354 The courts are not well maintained and some are dangerous! And it’s difficult to get a tennis court
when the pickleballers are on the courts. We need more dedicated tennis courts
355 I like that the tennis courts can be reserved. I would be open to not as many reservations for
pickleball. I have had a harder time reserving tennis courts recently.
356 Exciting courts are well-maintained and, for the most part easy to access and park. I am concerned
about access when RMTC courts are no longer in the mix. Even now courts are sometimes taken over
by pickleball and access can be an issue.
357 It's nice how they attract a range of people!
358 I like that Boulder is being proactive but as a tennis player, I wish there were more tennis courts in
good condition.
359 Appreciate the steps that have been made to improve courts such as Tom Watson. Boulder needs a
dedicated tennis facility such as quail in Longmont. With 12 courts with lights and inside courts at a
rec center. CU and Rmtc courts are going away and the city needs to get ahead of this loss.
360 The condition of the courts and lack of facilities are a problem
361 Please get rid of the pickle ball courts because they are intrusive on all of the tennis courts and since
all the tennis courts now have Pickleball courts no one could ever played tennis on the courts
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362 Lots of players in Boulder, would like to see more public courts
363 I like the ability to reserve courts online but NOT the online reservation system (it takes 10 minutes to
reserve a court!)
364 I appreciate being able to reserve courts and that there is usually a court somewhere to rent.
I'd love to see crack repair and more options for private lessons other than Gonzo.
365 Courts seem to be increasingly neglected. Cracks in the surface, weeds, etc. Would also like more
options for drop in tennis at the 4.0 level.
I've only played pickle ball once, but I'm hearing there's more demand than court space.
366 We need indoor courts and tennis facilities similar to apex in Arvada or steamboat . Use them as a
model.
367 Maybe this isn’t city owned, but the courts at Centennial Middle school are in miserable shape.
368 We definitely need more tennis courts and we have needed them since before pickle ball became such
a craze
369 I would hope for a new tennis facility that can accommodate the need, including indoor, lighted
outdoor courts that are suitable for all types of tennis - friends and family, lessons, league play, and
tournaments. Boulder doesn't have anything like this and the need is huge.
370 I like the fact that the most recent courts at Martin and Knollwood were built very well.
371 If I'm not mistaken, there hasn't been a new tennis court built by the City in over a decade. Many
courts are unavailable, or unplayable. For such an active city, access to tennis has lagged behind. And
access to indoor courts is woefully lagging. With all indications pointing toward a loss of tennis
courts in the very near future, the time is NOW to focus on adding new courts and investing in the
upkeep/improvement of existing ones.
372 I am a former Division 1 tennis player and I'm concerned about the limited availability of tennis
courts in Boulder. Unfortunately, I cannot play during afternoons or weekends as the courts are
consistently occupied by pickleball players. I live near Chautauqua, and I no longer have access to
that court due to safety concerns caused by holes added for pickleball nets and the fact that pickleball
players reserve the courts every morning on the weekends. I also used to play at the New Vista High
School courts, even when they were in poor condition (holes in the ground, holes in net, weeds) and
overrun by skateboarders. Now those courts have been demolished. I used to play at the Millenium
Harvest House courts when available, now those courts are going away too. The South Boulder Rec
center courts are complete filled by pickleball players. I have to try to make time very early in the
morning to try to play tennis at all during week days. As a tennis enthusiast and former D1 player, I
aspire for my daughters to follow in her father's and my footsteps, both of us being former D1 tennis
players and my husband part of a championship NCAA team. I cannot see that future here in Boulder.
There are just not enough courts for competitive players to practice in for a short amount of time,
don't even talk about the long hours of practice that are actually required for competitive play or
mention the fact that there are no indoor courts for practice in the winter.
We should not sacrifice tennis to pickleball. Tennis is the 4th most popular sport in the world and has
prestigious and historically, economically, and culturally important events like the US Open and
Wimbledon that have inspired generations of passionate players. Pickleball is growing in popularity
but is still nowhere near as popular as tennis.
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Tennis competition provides excellent physical and mental development for kids, the chance to
compete in a high-level sport, and even college scholarships. Kids are motivated and inspired by
dreams of competing in college and even professionally. No such opportunities exist for pickleball
and they are unlikely to develop, even if junior pickleball develops. No such opportunities exist for
kids in Boulder right now.
Tennis is the most important women's sport in the world. Women tennis players make more than
female athletes in any other sport, and it provides one of the best opportunities for girls to compete in
a college sport and even earn a college scholarship. Girls in Boulder will not have a chance to
participate in tennis if we don't add at least 20 more dedicated tennis courts, and at least 12 indoor
tennis courts soon.
Boulder has recently lost most of its courts to development or pickleball, including 5 courts at
Williams Village, 2 courts at New Vista High School, 5-10 courts at the Boulder Rec Centers, 1 court
at Chautauqua, and it will soon lose 12 courts at CU South. Meanwhile, tennis is growing in
popularity. We desperately need more dedicated tennis courts to meet the growing demand for tennis.
Tennis and pickleball should be played on separate facilities. Tennis requires smooth, level, high-
quality courts with a true bounce, and indoor tennis requires high ceilings. Most pickleball is not
played with precision and could likely be played in parking lots. Indoor pickleball can be played in
structures with a low roof. High quality tennis courts should not be sacrificed to pickleball, as
pickleball play does not require these high-quality courts.
373 I have appreciated the mix of drop-in and reservation systems.
374 I like the tennis courts we have, but there are not nearly enough of them for the number of players we
have here.
375 with the upcoming loss of RMTC we have very limited access to indoor tennis facilities
376 I really have enjoyed drop in opportunities at ALL Rec Centers in Boulder. I would LOVE that all
outdoor tennis courts also become accessible to be pickleball courts.
377 Location of current courts are good, but the crowds are only growing. Need more courts to satisfy the
demand.
378 Why does Louisville, Longmont, Broomfield have a way better abundance of good available courts
than Boulder?
379 Playing tennis
380 I like that the courts are generally in good condition, I dislike that most players do not utilize the
reservation system, and I'm concerned about court availability in the near future.
381 Drop in every morning at South (outdoor). When there is a regular drop-in game, something magical
happens. People know they can just show up, meet people and play. I have played at many courts
around the country with drop-in all day every day. This is the best. No reservations.
382 Walkable or bikeable from my home but not enough available for public use.
383 Boulder needs dedicated pickleball courts. There are so many people playing pickleball in Boulder
that it is difficult to reserve outside courts. Surrounding communities all have dedicated courts.
People are now traveling to Superior, Longmont and other communities to play. This extra 30-40 min
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of driving several days a week adds to increased pollution n Boulder county. Boulder should be
encouraging Boulderites to ride their bikes to local courts.
Resurfacing courts helped, but there is some cracking already.
384 Ready access to courts for tennis, via a competent reservation system
385 Do not give up tennis in favor of pickleball courts. The city already has a diminishing number of
tennis courts, and as one of the most popular sports -- and the most important women's sport -- we
need to maintain access to courts in town.
386 Need more tennis courts
387 As a player of both, I appreciate that there are many tennis courts converted to accommodate both
Pickleball and tennis. However, the demand for Pickleball calls for what I think has to be the most
essential request before anything else: the creation of more pickleball courts in whatever shape or
form, near, far or otherwise. And if possible, tennis as well, but given the demand, I think Pickleball
is the priority at this point.
388 It's fine.
389 Too many courts require a reservation. Should be places we can go to and play without a reservation
390 Lots of neighborhood locations; ability to walk/bike to tennis courts. Availability to reserve tennis
courts on short notice
391 Local court is in great condition and nearby residents keep it clear of snow. Please don’t turn Martin
Park tennis courts into pickle ball courts. It is already hard to find the courts available. They get lots
of use for tennis
392 pickleball may not be a fad, but it is nowhere near as important as tennis. kids don't dream of playing
pro pickle. they dream of Wimbledon, US Open, college tennis scholarships. That's what gets them to
grow and challenge themselves. you are sacrificing a very important sport culturally, economically,
and athletically for a sport that keeps older people active. There are other and better ways to do this.
Pickleball is not a high performance sport. It can be played in parking lots. It's such a shame to lose
tennis courts to pickleball.
393 tennis courts are never used, Pickleball courts always have people. get rid of the tennis courts.
394 If RMTC cannot relocate, many Boulder residents will be left with no ability to play tennis. There
are no city courts available. There must be an option for tennis players if RMTC is taken away.
395 People live in Boulder who care a lot about tennis. Me and other friends who value tennis aren’t
sure if we can live here, as we can’t play indoors or outdoors. There is a 7 year waitlist at the
meadows
Tennis is a serious sport and business. Pickleball is fun, but there are no college scholarships for
pickleball, there are no legitimate pro tours, it doesn't support a lesson economy because you need
only one lesson. It’s a simple game, like checkers, where tennis is like chess Everyone plays it
because it’s simple to pick up, you can match different levels, but you wouldn’t sacrifice all the chess
tables in the world for checkers. Or it’s like wiffle ball to baseball
Tennis is still the only sport where women are paid the same as men.
Pickleball does not require high quality courts. IT’s not a precision game. Most of it is played just for
fun. It can easily be played on a smooth parking lot at most levels, whereas tennis must be played on
a very good, dedicated, large court. Playing pickleball on tennis courts is a little like holding
elementary
Golf courses shouldn’t exist
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It’s important to develop their own infrastructure
The surveys for pickleball were deceptive. They invited only pickleball players to complete them, and
then when you entered it was clear that the purpose was to compare pickleball participation versus
tennis participation. Purposefully selecting a biased sample
Maybe it’s growing fast, but birding, walking, and hide and seek are also very popular activities. That
doesn’t mean we should sacrifice our tennis courts for them.
Tennis is the 5th most popular sport in the world. Large economic impact. Important history,
including the first and only sport to provide equal prize money to women in many tournaments, and
being at the vanguard of equal pay in society. Pickleball is growing and a fun game, but what are the
odds it replaces tennis. Padel is the next growing sport. Are we now going to let padel take over
tennis and basketball courts because it is trendy?
396 Currently play in private clubs at The Meadows for league and tournaments. Live in Denver. Need
more indoor courts in Colorado.
397 It seems that large chunks get reserved for drop and play at the time when we want to be reserving for
our own group. Friday evening this is an example. It would be nice if the large chunks did not get
limited.
398 I take lessons every week with Gonzo tennis and it's awesome! We just need access to more courts.
And in winter, we have to go to Longmont. So more courts and especially winter friendly courts.
399 I hope that how sound carries from Pickleball is seriously considered with any new courts or
additional hours.
I love playing indoors.
400 I play pickleball with friends. I Like the easy access and can usually find a court available. Our main
concern is with the lines. As new players playing on tennis courts with those lines plus pickleball
lines painted over them is confusing. It would be great to have just dedicated pickleball courts. Also,
some fences or netting to keep balls inside your court.
401 I hope the noise problems with pickle all will be addressed. Limit early and late pickle ball on courts
close to residential areas
402 Keep skateboarders and rollerbladers off the courts please.
403 Outdoor courts are noisy for nearby neighbors at north, I play between 10-3
404 Convenient
405 Good when you can get a court. Let’s face it so many more people are playing pickle than tennis.
Dedicated pickle courts are a must. The current reg system is broken. Seniors who get reservations for
free completely hog the courts and don’t even show. Not fair. And they reserve the tennis court to get
2 pickle courts! Bogus. Change N Boulder west 2 tennis courts to 6 dedicated pickle.
406 I like the fact that the places that have them are active. I do not like that there are pickle lines on the
court, and want them separate. It’s a distraction for tennis players.
407 On-line reservations. Please keep Pickleball courts in an area where the sound does not disturb
residents nor natural habitats.
408 Keep the courts in good condition.
409 The city needs to accommodate the large number of tennis players and not convert most courts to
pickleball courts.
410 I like to be able to have a court available for drop-in games.
411 There are some courts but many fall into disrepair. There are limited courts for leagues and most
importantly, there is no centralized facility with indoor courts (Like Arvada Apex)
412 Love playing on the courts for tennis. Should have dedicated tennis and pickleball courts to reduce
tennis courts being used for pickleball.
413 The free courts have allowed our family to play tennis over the years and have added to our quality of
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life and fitness in Boulder. Gonzo's program has taught my kids tennis. Unfortunately, by returning
the Centennial courts to BVSD without requiring them to be open to the public most of the time, the
City has severely reduced our options. By also allocating tennis courts to pickleball, the City has
made it very difficult to play tennis. With the loss of the Millennium, indoor tennis for my kids will
disappear. It strangely feels a bit like a war on tennis, though it clearly wasn't meant that way.
414 I like the reservation system. I think the courts are reasonably priced and the max of 1.5 hours is
good. Martin Park and South Boulder are in great shape and East could use a resurface.
I think more could be done to maximize the use of the existing courts. As much as I love tennis, it's
hard to justify the cost per capita.
I would put lights on all of the courts and make the them free. With LEDs I don't imagine there's a
high maintenance cost and there's no risk of them turning off and having to wait to turn them back on.
I think the high school and middle school courts should all be available to the public and have lights
as well. Many could be available during school hours, too, because they're set apart from the school.
415 I am very concerned that pickle ball is taking over and tennis is being pushed out. It is difficult to find
a tennis court because they are occupied by pickle ball players. I am also concerned that fewer the
gonzo tennis lessons will get offered or gonzo is moving to Longmont or Erie, which provides much
better conditions year-a-round program.
416 We like the courts at NBRC but understand the noise issues. We frequently go to Foothills. But there
are only 2 nets for 4 courts. And foothills is quite windy... more so than NBRC.
417 Reservation system is nice.
418 The many locations in South Boulder of the tennis courts. I would VERY MUCH appreciate the use
of a backboard - the only one is at EBCC and has been taken over by pickleball players. I have
nowhere else to hit, short of reserving and hauling a ball machine which is a pain. Thank you!
419 I like playing on dedicated tennis courts and dedicated pickle ball courts. I hope we develop enough
distinct courts so each sport can have its own space.
420 Convenient location
421 We are all hoping for indoor tennis courts, and more tournaments
422 Appreciate the accommodations and changes made by COB to accommodate PB as it grew quickly
here. I'd like courts dispersed throughout the City, even if fewer in one area. Multi use courts are
great (e.g., stripe the tennis courts for PB, use rolling nets, etc.
423 I like the fact that the Boulder Parks and Recreation Department supports tennis and pickleball.
424 Gonzo tennis is super fun and a good way to be involved in the community. The coaches are great!
Love the kids camps in the summers too
425 Fun people to play with. I play drop-in pickleball at South Boulder Rec. The courts are very full and
Carl does a great job of trying to keep it organized and people happy (volunteer of the year in my
opinion) but having more dedicated courts in the city for drop in and having city personnel help to
organize would be great. A small fee for residents and slightly higher one for visitors would be fine
for me (season passes are also an option).
426 T
427 The drop in service is convenient and easily available
428 Love that SBRC has open PB play every morning 7 days a week and wish there was open play at
either north or south rec center weekday evenings. Wish it was easier to find pickleball court rental
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part of the parks and rec website…it’s hard to find!
429 like that there is drop in times. Hard to see the lines when shared with tennis courts
430 Reasonable access and decent condition
431 We need designated PB courts quickly
432 Courts are available for tennis players
433 Indoor dedicated pickleball courts.
434 overall they're great. Scheduling/reservations is a bit clunky but not terrible. more courts at NBRC
would be nice
435 Mostly I like the fact that they exist and that they can be used for either tennis or pickle.
Future expectations: More courts and more times to reserve them, and a somewhat better reservation
system.
436 I like the courts at south annex
437 I like to resurfacing in nbrc courts but you have prioritized pickle ball and moved out tennis. It’s been
very disappointing and challenging to find court space. Even the Gonzo program has been affected,
which is such a loss for our families. You had a good thing going and you’ve made it much more
difficult.
438 There's definitely a need for more pickleball courts!
And It's a great community of people!
439 I can usually get a tennis court when I want one. I play a lot more tennis than pickleball.
440 Some of the tennis courts are quite lovely...and it is relatively easy to reserve online. In the areas/rec
centers where you have allowed pickleball, it is too hard to share. They have been taken over by
pickleball and even if we reserve a court for tennis, there are people on them playing pickleball and
we cannot get them to leave... even if we do, the noise level is VERY loud. Once you paint lines on
those courts for pickleball, we cannot use them for league play. We should be allowed to have
lessons with instructors other than Gonzo tennis... their adult classes are now as strong as classes at
RMTC and other venues bc they have a built in support so the instructors do not try their best,
including Gonzo himself.
441 Dedicated new pickleball and tennis courts.
442 It's concerning that so many tennis players in Boulder will be left with minimal number of courts city
wide. Tennis has been a big part of my life for many years. I hope to continue for many more.
443 We would like there to be more drop-in pickleball play and more courts around the city. Thanks!
444 Three things come to mind: online reservations; well maintained courts in good condition at some
locations (e.g. without cracks and clean); at the north boulder rec. center I like the recent change of
having 2 courts for pickleball and 2 for tennis because now I have a reasonable chance of reserving a
court to play tennis after work or on the weekends whereas previously courts were typically all
booked.
445 I don’t like them. I want dedicated pickleball courts.
446 They all have accessible parking and are located in town.
447 Reservations are easy and the cost is affordable
448 Do something more to restore our city and reduce homeless population taking over public areas
449 I like that there are courts dispersed throughout the city
450 Lots of courts and the lessons are great. I wish there were dedicated pickleball courts. Having so
many lines is confusing to play on.
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451 I like the court locations
452 Quality surface courts, good nets, clear hours, good option of drop-in times, easy reservation system
453 I live in Boulder but have only played pickleball at the Lafayette YMCA. I hope to start playing in
Boulder.
454 Cheap, and beautiful locations.
455 Like - some courts are in good condition (MP)
Concerns - potholes, availability, pickle ball noise
456 Quality of lessons
457 I like them, they are great, just not enough and hard to reserve
458 I love having tennis courts in town. Pickle ball courts would add recreation options to citizens of all
ages. The court by my house is not maintained and has huge cracks and graffiti (Eisenhower courts)
459 NOTHING!
BUILD DESIGNATED PICKLEBALL COURTS!!!!
460 I love tennis. I wish there were many more courts for all of us to enjoy.
461 Pickleball players have driven out the tennis players at SBRC
462 The SBRC are in great shape.
463 Outlets for charging phones, plugging speakers or ball machines. Bike racks n garbage cans near by.
Multiple entrances to courts. Better dividers between adjacent pickleball courts to avoid balls getting
other court.
464 I appreciate that there are courts spread out throughout the community. I hope that future pickleball
courts are created with an eye toward sound mitigation for existing neighborhoods.
465 There really are no indoor or covered options. Kids also into tennis and other than Gonzo it would be
nice to have more available private lessons for kids and kid tennis groups for practice and for match
play.
466 Evening/ afternoon group tennis lessons for kids at South boulder would be wonderful!
Now that the south boulder tennis courts are overrun by pickleballers, it is extremely appreciated that
the Fairview high school courts are open for tennis. Thank you!
467 Locations are good. Weeds / cracks need to be repaired
468 I am really hoping for indoor tennis options and for less pickle ball players and lines on the tennis
courts. Also, a bathroom solution for columbine and knoll wood courts would be awesome.
469 I like the sense of community, friendliness and learning
470 Convenient location. Tennis courts seem to always have availability, but pickleball do not. A
reservation is pretty much required if you want to actually play instead of driving around looking for
pickleball courts.
471 I like that there is 1 backboard so that I can hit when I can't find someone. (I wish there were more at
other rec center loc.) I think the courts are in pretty good shape.
472 General cleanliness and varied placement across the city.
473 Need indoor tennis facility.
474 Rather than larger number of courts at a few location, more 2-court locations in residential
neighborhoods are most convenient
475 I very much appreciate that the city has tennis courts. Not every community does. As PB and Tennis
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have different needs, I believe it is important for there to be separate facilities.
476 South Boulder Rec Center has 8 courts that are used for Pickleball in the mornings. Enough courts
that are usually full but provide adequate access for all levels of play. However, the courts are tennis
and therefore the PB nets are roll-on and the courts have many cracks that impact play at times.
477 I love playing pickleball in conjunction with existing facilities such as Rec centers and parks BUT the
joint use courts for tennis and PB are not adequate.
478 More tennis courts
479 They are conveniently located and in great shape. The fee is reasonable. Plenty of parking. It would
be nice to have court side seating so I don't have to bring my own chair.
480 Hopes that Boulder will have great facilities like steamboat springs
481 Spend our money elsewhere
482 Pickleball courts and reservation system seem fine, not sure what's driving the process to change
what's in place.
483 Good condition
484 Courts are well distributed around the city and generally accessible. Shade on, or around, the courts is
missing.
More practice walls would be nice. Indoor courts would be fantastic.
485 views . Some courts are in good shape. Some not so much
486 Martin Park and Knollwood are great - if you already have a tennis friend to play with. Well built
courts, I use them often with friends. However with just 2 courts they are not suitable for
organized/sanctioned events, or for local events/drills/lessons/local ladders that promote finding new
partners and expanding play opportunities.
487 I don't want pickleball to overrun tennis. Would rather see you some new courts dedicated to
pickleball than to convert existing tennis courts to pickleball most/all of the time.
488 Big hope for tennis is indoor courts with lessons/classes over the winter.
Big hope for pickleball is more courts and indoor courts.
489 I wish SBRC courts were 1/2 pickleball 1/2 tennis all the time, rather than all pickle most of the time.
490 I like the reservation process and availability of courts for social play, not just leagues.
491 I don’t use City of Boulder courts currently because I’m a member of the Meadows tennis club. I’m
interested in indoor pickleball court options becoming available in Boulder.
492 I am an avid tennis player- both recreationally and through various leagues (primarily USTA). It is
unfortunately increasingly difficult to get access to tennis courts due to pickleball. It's incredibly
disappointing that Rocky Mountain Tennis Center, one of the few club options in town (without a
long waitlist such as The Meadows), is closing and those tennis courts are being converted into
pickleball courts. I play pickleball recreationally and support those who play- it has helped an
especially older demographic get out for exercise and build community, which I fully support. I just
wish that this was in addition to tennis facilities and not in place of. The pickleball
players/community have not been particularly welcoming or kind when trying to share the courts,
especially at South Boulder Rec Center, where I live. They have essentially taken over the facility,
booking it out morning to night. Given the USTA rules about lined courts for league/tournament play,
there will be fewer and fewer options for tennis events. I hope that tennis and pickleball can coexist
together and pickleball facilities will be additive instead of replacements for tennis courts.
493 Have only played on SBRec Center courts, and easy reservation system . The Superior Pickleball
courts at Autry Park are excellent examples.
494 Free & Locations
495 Court maintenance at some. Indoor courts are in dire need. Arvada is awesome and many other areas
of front range have indoor centers
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496 Need dedicated courts with permanent nets.
497 Generally relaxed and friendly atmosphere, beautiful views of course, but do wish there were more
courts readily available to book
498 The service and maintenance is good. We are desperate for dedicated courts and more of them. They
can be similar to existing courts; nothing fancy.
499 I really like the availability of courts at North, East and South. I would like to get the courts back at
north (courts 5-8) as it has become very difficult to get courts there unless you book a week in
advance. I'd like the courts at East to be repaved and more courts made available there if possible.
500 The courts generally are in good condition, though some rec center courts could use maintenance.
The reservation system is complete trash though, it is like a 12 yr. old did a computer science project
for a class they didn't care about. The fact that you can't reasonably book a court via a mobile
interface is offensive in this day and age! The lack of covered courts to play in winter is also
extremely disappointing. Spending money on an Instagram sport like pickleball is a joke, when you
will still be leaving everyone out in the cold all winter not able to play any racket sport in the city.
Would you rather spend money converting courts to pickleball so you create even more
congestion/competition for courts for half the year, or build indoor courts that can actually be used
year round and ease the problem instead of exacerbate it?
501 I do enjoy the current condition of the courts, however this is mostly due to the hard work and
volunteered time of the BOCO Pickleball Club. It would be helpful to have assistance with the daily
maintenance of courts. As it stands right now, these duties tend to fall upon individuals who are
available in the mornings on weekdays. This tends to be people who are retired or have very flexible
work schedules.
I would hope to have consistent access to restrooms, water, shade, and additional seating in the future.
502 I like the convenience of city pickleball and tennis courts, but think we need dedicated pickleball
courts to re-open up the tennis courts. I like both sports, but at the moment, the pickleball is taking
over the tennis courts. If we built dedicated pickleball courts (which are so much better than playing
on tennis courts), that would open up the tennis courts for tennis.
503 It would be nice to have permanent indoor courts for tennis.
504 City courts are limited. Can school or CU courts be available for public use?
505 Courts are somewhat dangerous today because their is no separation and balls run everywhere. When
it is hot their is no water or shade available at the courts. We really need facilities that enhance the
health of our community.
506 (1) There are a lot of pickleball courts (but more are needed because they are generally full), the
reservation system works well, and the courts are in reasonable condition. (2) The SBRC drop-in
pickleball play is good for some, but not everyone wants to do drop-in play and there should be some
options for reserving a court at SBRC in the mornings. The drop-in takes all of the courts. Or you
might consider doing some drop-in times for beginners only (or for women) only since it can be hard
for beginners to participate in drop-in. (3) I took several lessons through parks and rec (with Gonzo
and instructor Adam) and they were really good. But the lessons fill up super quickly, so I think
more options for lessons would be good.
507 Enjoy some of the courts. Many are in disrepair. We need more Tennis designated courts
508 PLEASE consider indoor tennis courts for the City of Boulder
509 I am hoping for an indoor court in Boulder that so I can continue my Gonzo tennis lessons through
winter and play year round.
510 I like that they exist, otherwise I would have to join a club like meadows.
I don’t like multi-purpose courts, dedicated pickle ball and tennis is preferred. The EBCC courts are
in poor condition. A dedicated facility for both sports including indoor courts would be ideal
511 We have been members of Rocky Mtn. Tennis Center (formerly Harvest House) since mid 80s. We
have played 100% of our tennis there several times a week. Unfortunately, we are now losing the
club since the hotel has been purchased and apartments being built there. Because we always played
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at RMTC, we have zero experience using city courts. We are now looking to Boulder city to replace
our RMTC tennis experience. -- Jim & Janet Andrews
512 I just tried to get reservation at 8am sharp and could not get it. Too many people are competing for
too few PB courts (only two, and South Rec are all taken by drop-ins) at East Boulder Rec Center.
This is especially a BIG problem when you took away 4 PB courts at North Rec. We need the city to
stripe 4 PB courts at East to solve the immediate needs.
513 Having only been here 2 years, I do appreciate the dispersion of tennis courts throughout the
neighborhoods. Maintenance of courts, I guess repaving would be appreciated for safety.
Reservations could be improved - in fact if you are looking for a court, it would be nice if you could
see which courts are available at that time - across the city or across sections of the city. Thank you!
514 Sometimes it’s tough to find courts to play tennis on at NBRC because too many pickle ball players
also I don’t like when pickle ball players play on paddle ball courts
515 Like: court locations, online reservations easy, hour in advance court reservation rule, Gonzo Tennis,
NBRC & Tom Watson lights are free, some courts don't have pickleball lines
Dislike/needs improvement: no indoor courts, no tennis center, not enough courts, not enough lights,
no dedicated pickleball courts so always share tennis courts, Silver Sneakers reservations should be
discounted not free (btw I am a senior), court maintenance needs to be prioritized more, more support
in Parks & Rec for Gonzo Tennis and tennis in general
516 Are well located as I live in city if Boulder, would like to see benches at all the courts
517 The pickleball community is very welcoming and helpful. The courts are generally in good shape, but
the various lines (shared with tennis) can be confusing.
518 I like that there are a variety of locations for tennis. It seems harder to get a court on nice weather
days. I don't like competing with pickle ball lines, nets, noise and available courts.
I don't like how quickly courts get cracked and need repairs. Better resurfacing and building more
designated courts for tennis would improve the tennis population. We desperately need an offseason
bubble or roof to play year round.
519 I love the drop in play of both tennis and pickle. Tennis does need more space for drop in due to how
tennis is scored. I would like that the pickle ball players get there own courts so it doesn't feel
animosity toward each other. We should not have to feel like arguing over how courts are used.
Pickleball with drop in have designated court time that takes away tennis courts from tennis players.
Doesn’t feel fair when the weather is good for tennis.
520 That they are accessible for Boulderites.
521 I think the condition of the courts at NBRC are very good. I hope the city builds a facility that has
indoor courts. I think a public/;private facility would work well.
522 Would like to see more pickleball courts at EBRC
523 Indoor courts please. The lack of indoor courts in Boulder county is LAUGHABLE and needs to be
fixed. Five year waitlist at meadows club is crazy- model a tennis facility after apex in Arvada
524 the drop-ins, hope that in the future we'll have permanent nets and dedicated PB courts. My big
concern is the condition of the current PB nets at the courts
525 They are super fun!
526 The courts are in great shape compared to other public courts I have played on. The amenities are
standard and feel like they are great. I wish there were more courts in multiple places in the future.
527 Like Palo Park resurfaced courts. East and North Rec courts are pretty recently resurfaced but have
bare spots and way too many repair patches. Balls bounce funny on the patches.
528 They are in sad shape! I have lived here and played for 30 years and they have never been so bad.
We need to prioritize Tennis and Pickleball, have designated courts with lights and indoor option. It
is Embarrassing! Even Longmont has a wonderful center! Maybe partner with BVSD I play mostly
on their courts, and they are in sad shape too -
529 Dedicated tennis courts (without roll-on nets for pickleball)
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530 It would be ideal for the City of Boulder to have dedicated pickleball courts similar to what Arvada
CO has with the Apex 24 pickleball courts. There would be opportunities for revenues to be
generated to the City of Boulder (hotel, restaurants, etc.) with future tournaments if there were
dedicated pickleball courts.
531 I'm not happy with the current situation. Pickleball lines on tennis courts are terrible. The city needs
separate courts for pickleball, don't use tennis courts.
532 conveniently located
533 There are some great courts, what I would like to see is a public private partnership tennis/ pickle ball
club like gates in Denver, where there is events, a pro shop, pick up tournaments, and reserving courts
is inexpensive. Also, indoor courts during winter are key
534 Availability to play on courts.
535 I like that they are fairly well-maintained. I don't like that the city plans to expand pickleball to the
disadvantage of tennis players. We live within short walking distance of South Boulder, but because
you dedicated two of four courts to pickleball and painted for pickleball even the two tennis courts,
we drive to East Boulder. North Boulder is also totally painted for pickleball. Now we hear you plan
to paint more pickleball courts at East Boulder. If you want to drive tennis players out of Boulder,
you're doing a fine job of it.
536 I don't play much on City courts since I am a member of Rocky Mt. Tennis. If RMTC closes we all
will need access for courts to reserve. Also need indoor courts for wintertime
537 easy availability of courts during designated drop in times. Hope we don't lose too many courts due
to noise complaints
538 I think there needs to be separation between tennis and pickleball activity. Pickleball players should
build their own courts rather than taking over tennis courts.
539 Courts at schools are in the terrible shape. This incudes surface, nets, and debris
540 The reservation system works well. I would love to see dedicated PB courts with fencing around each
court. I would also like to see longer drop in times at North with DUPR play courts
541 We need more pickleball courts in Boulder. I am OK with mixed use or dedicated courts. I am
disappointed with the planning/visioning timeline, and with the loss of the courts at North Boulder.
Currently, every day players can't get a court. I also would like some 24/7 drop in courts. No
reservations, drop in all the time. This will serve beginners and more advanced players. But we need
more courts to do this!
542 I am satisfied by the current City of Boulder tennis courts, but I answered dissatisfied because there is
no winter option. It would be fantastic if the city could put a bubble over at least one (if not all rec
center) tennis facility in the winter. It would be really wonderful if the City could build (or convert a
rec. tennis facility into) an indoor facility.
543 Way too much emphasis (and budget) on tennis, especially given the limited usage. The epic failure
to double-strip the EBRC courts is an insult to pickleball players and just another sign that the City is
beholden to Gonzo (zoom in on those courts and note the pin that says Gonzo runs them!!) rather than
the people they are supposed to be representing. I also recommend a covered 4 to 8 dedicated
pickleball court center at Valmont City Park as the best way to deal with the severe shortage of
courts.
544 I am concerned for the lack of dedicated pickleball courts. Previously, the mixed use courts at NBRC
had enough capacity to support but now the few courts left are always booked. NBRC is walking
distance to my house and a great asset to the community. I was very disappointed when courts were
taken away.
545 Having courts on the east side or just in Boulder County would be amazing, esp. with upcoming
closure of other courts. Covered courts would be super helpful as most residents do not have access to
year round/weather independent tennis.
546 I like that there are tennis courts with lights that can be reserved. There is a shortage of tennis courts
in Boulder County and losing the CU south facility and Rocky Mtn Tennis center will make that
worse. I drive to Arvada to play at Apex all winter. The dream would be a similar facility in Boulder
County. I like to play pickleball as well, but am concerned that the recent popularity and lower
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expense for facilities will cause cities to favor installing pickleball facilities over tennis
547 School courts could be upgraded
548 I like that courts are available and that you can reserve them online
549 I can usually play as much As I want.
550 -I'm grateful that the city has finally starting refurbishing existing courts, particularly Tom Watson,
which was in desperate need.
-Adding lights to existing tennis courts would immediately increase the city's court capacity in a cost
effective manner.
-I would really like to see Boulder develop a community tennis facility along the line of Apex in
Arvada.
551 Kids need more tennis and do not play pickleball. It is a fad and should not be invested in.
552 As a former tennis player and current pickleballer, I find a kinship between the 2 sports and players,
and I like the current arrangement of dual use of courts for both sports.
553 Hope for better tennis court maintenance and more lighted courts
554 Number of Pickleball courts available, drop in locations, play times, some outdoor locations could
use shaded areas, balance the need for Pickleball and tennis….
555 The current supply is not meeting the need. How about giving more attention to pickleball space in
existing parks that are being underused. Like Valmont Park, where the old chicken house was located,
could be a great indoor or shaded space for pickleball. Many city's are going out of their way to build
more courts, why can't we?
556 I appreciate that we have tennis courts around Boulder, but have been very dismayed at the
maintenance of the courts.
557 We are losing Rocky Mountain Tennis/Harvest House courts soon. We need more courts in the city.
558 Boulder rocks and is keeping up with the pickleball crazy
559 I don’t know of any true outdoor surface pickleball courts ran by the city in Boulder, and I would love
for that to change.
560 Location
561 Open play at south. Future hopes: court repairs, trash cans
562 Tennis courts near the Dakota Ridge area.
563 Boulder needs year round public indoor courts
564 I am not familiar with the city courts since I play at the RMTC now. When RMTC ceases operating, I
would hope tennis courts can serve those of us who will be displaced.
565 Drop in option. Future with dedicated pb courts, tournament indoor courts
566 I would like to see more pickleball courts across the city, including pickleball-only courts. The
current trend of closing courts is the wrong direction for this very popular sport. More pickleball!
567 More Tennis courts, Separate Tennis courts, Separate Pickleball courts
568 Love playing Pickleball with the Boulder women’s groups
569 Dedicated pickleball courts and better condition of courts
570 Currently the City courts are tennis courts. We need pickleball courts, not just portable nets in poor
condition.
571 We really need a court where kids who want to compete at a higher level can play, such as RMTC.
572 I love playing pickleball on the indoor courts at NBRC — warm in winter, cool in summer, water
fountains, seating, and a restroom!
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573 The courts are fine. We just need more of them.
574 Although the resurfacing Tom Watson and Palo Park tennis courts is great (thank you!), both were
needed a few years back. The number of USTA usable tennis courts in Boulder is going down, since
The City is simply painting pickleball lines on the existing tennis courts. This makes the courts
unusable for USTA, and difficult to see lines even at the social level.
575 I like that the NBRC courts are located within a 15 minute drive from my house. Since our court
numbers have dropped to only 4 courts, I don't think that lessons should be using the NBRC courts.
The lessons should take place at other city facility that has more courts!!!
576 We need dedicated pickleball courts. There are many dedicated tennis courts ….. no dedicated pickle
ball courts
577 Like convenience
The courts should be re-lined to include 4 pickle courts/tennis court or 6/2 tennis courts
578 Being able to reserve courts through Renew is a big plus for me, otherwise I would not be able to play
as often if I paid each time out of pocket.
579 Drop in availability
Norms of friendliness & cooperation for learning & fun
580 There is such a demand for pickleball. We need more lighted courts.
581 I would love to see some dedicated pickleball courts added to the boulder community, we are far
behind our neighbors in Superior, Longmont, Loveland, Aurora.
582 Pickle ball is growing SO fast and City needs to keep up with needs
583 I am submitting a second survey because I thought on something I would like to add...
Something that was not presented, or discussed at the meeting was the idea that pickleballers play
many more hours than tennis players. We tend to play several times a week for several hours at a
time, In addition, we tend to play year round. So a one to one comparison between a tennis player
and a Pickleball player does not accurately represent the needs for court time.
With regards to efficiently sharing the resources currently available in Boulder, court use could be
maximized by making as many courts as possible available during the mornings. Our busiest hours
are before noon when the tennis courts are mostly sitting empty. Why not make, say, 75% of all
tennis courts in Boulder available for Pickleball only during the morning.
This would, to a good extent, reduce much of the pickleballers frustration with the unfairness of
having tennis courts reserved solely for tennis, and having less than 5 courts reserved solely for
pickleball. A very frustrating example of this was in the winter when the Pickleball community had
just shoveled the snow and dried the courts for play. A group of tennis players immediately got
online, reserved the courts and kicked us off. That kind of behavior feels sanctioned by the city of
Boulder, and makes pickleballers feel that their tax dollars are disproportionately supporting the
tennis community.
Thank you for listening
584 The current public courts I've played on have water and bathroom facilities and that is wonderful!
585 I've loved playing pickleball at North and South Boulder rec centers. It's become my favorite hobby
and the most connective community offering. However, there is not enough court availability,
particularly for higher end play. Open play isn't great if you're a more competitive player. Adding
more pickleball courts or bringing back Tennis Courts 3&4 to allow pickleball at NoBo Rec would be
huge.
586 I like there are SOME shared pickleball courts. I hope there will be DEDICATED pickleball courts
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in the future.
587 Nice to have lights at NBRC, wish other rec centers (SBRC) had lights as well to increase playing
opportunities in the evenings.
588 As pickle ball continues to gain players in the community, we definitely need access to more
dedicated courts.
589 If we have to go to a reservation system, PLEASE make it easy. None of the Boulder City websites
are easy, not the Rez, not court reservations, nothing is easy... Not sure why, but it's always a NON
User Friendly system.
590 Like that there are some to reserve but would prefer dedicated Pickleball courts
591 Pleased you are surveying players to better identify priorities. Pickleball should be a priority going
forward as it will continue to grow.
592 I like the amount of city reserved courts for open play and would hope for more courts in the future
593 Like the lighted courts at North Boulder Rec Center. Like that they added more courts there
594 Usually play when it is open courts - don’t know daily schedule well enough to make reservations
595 The people I play with
596 Love that there are open times outside so anyone can come play, just not enough courts, too busy
597 conveniently located around town, reasonably well maintained
598 We need more dedicated Pickleball Courts
599 Location of SBRC, but courts need improvement, cracks , lines better nets. And we need more courts
designated for just pickle ball. Lights too
600 It's great to be able to play pickleball with friends and neighbors right in my neighborhood at my
home rec centers. Grateful for the city's support of pickleball and hoping that will continue in the
future!
601 I have played USTA league tennis with BTA for 20 years. It has been a very positive experience. In
recent years, the maintenance of courts has not been great, and then they began being taken over by
pickle ball. Please retain great quality public courts for Boulder tennis players!!
602 I like that there are several courts to play Pickleball on at the Rec centers but given the growing
popularity the city needs to designate more PB courts to keep up with demand.
603 There is an extreme shortage of PB courts in Boulder - especially when compared to surrounding
communities. Boulder has a large population of players but they are consistently leaving and playing
on other places. Also, PB is the fastest growing sport in the US and as the number of leagues and
tournaments grow, Boulder is going to be left out when it comes to these events (and potential
revenue). Boulder should be taking a leadership role in embracing this - not pulling back on courts
because of a few squeaky wheels (re: perceived noise).
604 Tennis provides fitness and connection for members of our community. We have a substantial
population of tennis players and involved community members. We should not have to give up the
ability to play tennis for another sport. We are losing the RMTC which provided tennis year round to
members as well as to the CU women's team and to the wheelchair tennis program year round. We
need accessible indoor courts for all.
605 Very happy that Boulder is getting on board with the growing popularity of this sport!
606 I'd like to see more tennis courts especially indoor tennis courts.
607 North Boulder Rec courts were beautiful.
Taking them down is a shame
608 NoBo needs to have more pickleball courts. The current restrictions make no sense. The sport is
supported by many more active players than tennis.
609 not much so far, but I hope to become more involved with players of all levels and to market these
facilities .
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610 it appears that pickleball has taken over and causes too many lines on the courts. You need to share
the space by not messing up the tennis courts.
611 The views from South Boulder Rec are nice. Condition of all courts is poor
612 I realize Parks and Recreation is doing the best they can.
But what they need to base decisions on is NOT just the number of players for tennis or pickleball,
but
*** the number of hours played by pickleball versus tennis, and what hours of the week those hours
are being played***.
My guess based on seeing tennis and pickleball at the North and South courts is that there are many
more hours played by the pickleballers and tennis players, and further, those different sports play at
different times of the day and the week throughout the year and you could probably maximize the
hours for each if you pay attention to that.
613 I like:
1. Open play
2. Reservations available
3. Some lights (but not enough)
4. Some courts convenient to my house (although I frequently have to drive across town--and out of
town--for courts and open play.
5. Great people. I moved to Boulder a year ago, and pickleball has been far and away the most
important factor in my integration into the community.
My hopes:
1. Dedicated courts w/ permanent nets. The portable nets are always a mess--they just can't withstand
this much use and Boulder's wind and weather. Plus, we don't want to create a tennis vs. pb fight.
2. More lighted courts. Boulder gets hot during the summer, so evening play is best. Boulder gets
dark early during the winter, so lights are necessary to play after work.
3. Wind screens.
4. A pickleball complex capable of hosting larger events, like most of our surrounding communities
have. I spend too much time in the car traveling to pickleball places outside of Boulder, both for
events and regular play.
Concerns:
1. The Gonzo lessons keep generating new players, but the competition for courts is already a
problem.
2. Open Play can get very crowded. I know many people who have stopped coming because they
have to wait too long. It's also a problem to only have 4 courts for open play, because you can't have
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courts designated for certain ability levels to help make the most compatible games--with 6-8 courts
for open play, you could have beginner vs. intermed/advanced areas, making things better for all.
614 We desperately need lighted courts, indoor courts, and dedicated tennis courts without pickleball lines
615 There are a fair number of courts but would love to see more
616 Like the drop in opportunities. But need more courts
617 I like the drop-in arrangement. It’s clear that with the increased interest in pickleball, we need
additional courts.
618 Courts are in pretty good shape, would like to see more courts with lights. Concern is when RMTC is
gone it will be much harder to get a court and will lose community aspect of tennis in Boulder
619 I'm disappointed to lose access to some of the North Boulder courts.
Also the temporary nets at North Boulder are substandard. I'd like to see something more substantial
with more tension across the top of the net.
Lastly when you restripe them next the blue stripes against the green background are very hard to see
under the lights at night.
620 Nboulder outdoor courts are good but need more availability for pickleball. Access to restrooms is a
problem. Indoor courts are not good because of multiple lines.
621 Pickleball needs more single use, separate from other sports, courts. Cracks need to be repaired
(completely and professionally) on existing courts.
622 I like the people and location.
623 I like that the rec centers have the availability to play
624 Please provide sound attenuation at NBRC to open up the 4 pickleball courts that have recently been
closed. Dampening devices and landscaping should be explored to mitigate any sound concerns.
Closing those courts and prioritizing the City League has made pickleball inaccessible to many of us
that have played there for years.
625 Future hopes are for dedicated pickleball courts in Boulder. Pickleball is thriving and Boulder is a
mecca for outdoor activities, and it's embarrassing that we don't have a facility for this growing sport
that is enjoyed by all ages.
626 I like the daily drop in at the rec centers.
Better maintained courts…. Nearly every court that I play on has significant cracks
627 That there is regular drop in times available
628 Frequent times for open play at BoCo facilities.
629 My future hopes are covered pickleball courts and covered seating areas.
630 Dedicated tennis courts in excellent shape; e.g. Martin Park
631 There is not enough available especially for people who work M-F 9-5. Also, Gonzo Tennis is an
organizational disaster -- I've done two tournaments with them that were so poorly organized that
everyone should have been refunded! I'm sorry to learn that they are actually the city's contracted
supplier. Please reconsider or undertake careful evaluation of their offerings!
632 That there are some courts
633 I like the courts are available at south east and north. I like that north has a little bit of shade.
634 There is a lot to be desired from the existing tennis courts and we NEED specific Pickleball courts
throughout this county. It’s unfair that we have to travel to other counties to play Pickleball. We pay
taxes too!
635 Please automatically block out the time period designated for open play daily. Members of BoCo
Pickleball tried to do it manually now so that the courts are playable for everyone at certain times.
But recently the courts are often booked by other people and some times only 2 out of 8 is left to a
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group of players in SBRC.
636 I would like dedicated pickleball courts
637 Need designated pickleball only courts and more open play
638 I love that there are courts spread around the city, I would like more evening inside sessions during
the week.
639 I like that they exist (or did at NoBo). I hope you build some permanent courts somewhere. Look at
Apex to see how much money the city could make from tournaments
640 The City has already reduced the pickleball courts at the NBRC facility - I am concerned about
further reductions. Pickleball is a GROWING sport, not a shrinking one. There are many times I've
been on courts 1-4 now and people are waiting and what used to be courts 5-8 sit empty.
641 There is not much to like, because there are too few tennis courts, they are generally in sub-par
condition, and there is no public facility open during weekdays with enough courts for a number of
players to play together. I would hope for a public tennis center (which other towns our size have)
with a number of well-maintained lighted courts. I would be happy to pay to play at such a facility.
642 The most important issue is the need for dedicated indoor tennis and pickle ball courts that are
separate from each other and for public use.
643 I like that that they are located at the rec centers. We need dedicated pickleball courts
644 I appreciate that the SBRC nets can be rolled on and off and that there are so many courts. I’d love to
see more courts in the city as the current courts are used heavily. At some point the SBRC surfaces
need improvement but they are playable. Seating and shade would be amazing!
645 Great locations
646 I love playing pickleball outside and meeting new people. My hopes are that we can have more
courts throughput Boulder. Start with a complex like Apex with many pickleball courts in one
location.
647 Love that there are some places to play tennis. So sad that so many are disappearing.
648 Dedicated courts for 4.0+ players
649 Courts are in terrible shape. Nets are just barely adequate. Barriers between courts should be part of
any plan.
650 South Boulder Rec has the best courts.
651 I like open play at the rec centers, especially outdoor open play. I like building community through
Pickleball. I think it’s really important for Boulder to build dedicated pickleball courts with lights.
652 I am very happy to have the option to play tennis on public courts and consider this an important part
of my life. However, the lack of public indoor courts for winter, the often problematic condition of
the existing public courts and sometimes (e.g. weekend mornings) trouble to finding courts to play on
are a significant issue.
653 I would hope that the city would build some dedicated PB courts to satisfy the demand for more
courts.
654 I like that there is a reservation system. I hope in the future there will be dedicated Pickleball courts. I
also hope there will be many more Pickleball courts.
655 Boulder has lagged so far behind other comparable cities in providing pickleball facilities. After
playing on the courts for 5 years we do not seem to make much progress.
656 I love the pickleball open play. It is very inclusive and an easy way to meet other people.
657 Lots of drop in pickleball courts. Friendly people.
658 Lights should be added to South courts. It was unfortunate losing 4 PB courts at North. It's so much
harder to find a court. Please add some dedicated pickleball courts somewhere in the city. Also,
portable nets and pb lines in the parks. That's a relatively cheap fix although the neighborhoods would
probably hate the noise. I think dedicated courts with 8 to 12 courts is a good start.
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659 My future hopes are for more dedicated pickleball courts that are in good shape and extended indoor
play hours.
660 Availability and condition most important. Pickleball only courts are highly desirable and preferable!
Not enough courts and in a few years with pickleball being the fastest growing sport in the nation the
community court availability will plummet without further investment. Pickleball statistics are
readily available. The city must see the demand coming and invest un such a meaningful and
important community asset. Study other cities and see the problem of not anticipating growth!
661 Access is quite good
662 The location of the courts at South Boulder Rec is convenient. but the courts aren't in good shape.
663 Resurfacing of IBM courts is great news.
664 I like that boco pickleball club has courts in mornings Monday to Friday but has gotten very crowded
and harder for beginners to play. I like the city's gonzo tennis contract so I got to take a beginners
class that helped me get started. People have mostly been kind and welcoming. Lately, not as much.
665 There aren’t enough pickleball courts.
666 More courts for pickleball
667 I like that we have the option to use the rec center outdoor courts.
668 I love playing pickle ball 2 to 3 times a week and I’m glad that there are eight courts at S. Boulder
Rec Center. Several of the courts have cracks and it would be nice to have the courts resurfaced. It
also would be nice if Boulder had designated Pickleball courts. Lighting would also be helpful as
those of us who work full-time play after work and it starts getting dark now at 6:30 PM. Some have
purchase lighted balls, but it is not very safe to not have the courts lit. Thanks for taking into
consideration the feedback of the community. I have loved seeing the incredible range of ages playing
pickle ball at the courts and they are almost always packed with people. It’s a wonderful community
gathering activity.
669 I love the open play at SBRC. It’s the nicest group and so wonderful to not have to have perfect
numbers of players or plan ahead.
670 Need to expand number of pickleball dedicated courts.
671 It is awesome that Boulder has pickleball courts at all the Rec centers. However, it would be great to
see the City reopen all 8 pickleball courts at NBRC. It would also be great to see dedicated pickleball
courts built with lighting. Foothill Community Park and Valmont park would both be excellent
locations for dedicated pickleball courts.
672 X
673 convenient to my house
674 The schedule of pickleball open play at North and South boulder rec centers has created an extremely
valuable community experience
675 I would really like to see the cracked courts fixed ASAP. I hope Boulder will add accessible
pickleball courts in south Boulder and north Boulder.
676 I frequent the pickleball courts in South Boulder and I like that there are a lot of courts available so
there’s always opportunity to play.
677 glad a few exist but in poor condition. need permanent nets. very behind other communities
678 We need more indoor tennis courts Boulder county has NONE!!!!!! Indoor pb too!!!!!!
679 The effort
680 More pickle ball courts with access !!
681 All city courts are currently shared with no d signaled courts. Do you ask baseball players to shovel,
do you ask pool guests to skim the pool, do you ask bike riders to plow the paths? Please use tax
dollars to provide for basic community needs.
682 Toilets and shade would be helpful on outside courts. It would be great to have reservable indoor
courts.
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683 Get the pickle ballers their own courts
684 Easy access. Chance to meet new people if drop in play expanded
685 We don’t have enough dedicated Pickleball courts! We need more places to play PB.
686 Please improve the online court sign-up system. Is there some way you can make it less stressful for
us to have our finger nervously poised over the "reserve" button at 7:59 am exactly a week before our
prospective court time?! I have been booking for a weekly group for about three years now, and this
has been my experience. Is there any way to procure an ongoing slot?! And/or can there be a
designated staff person who can be reached at that time regarding glitches?
687 We have been asking and waiting for more Pickleball courts for several years. I thought we were
supposed to get more courts at EBRC outside this last year. It seems that the only thing that is ever
done is more study, more surveys.
688 Pickleball is more popular than tennis, and continues to grow. So city resources should be prioritized
that way.
689 I like that the tennis courts are available for BTA league play.
690 League rules do not allow tennis play if pickle ball lines are there. This limits available courts. Also,
need 3-5 courts for league matches so 2-court facilities aren’t of much use. School district / city court
system is awkward. Hard to know when school courts are unavailable (Did we lose two courts at
new vista permanently?).
Obviously pickleball noise is a big factor for anyone doing anything nearby
691 Not enough Tennis Courts Available for USTS Tennis Leagues
692 Recent high quality upgrades to Tom Watson courts are greatly appreciated. In the past, most city
courts were poorly maintained and full of cracks. Please continue with the improvements to reach all
courts.
693 I like the quality and location of the Knollwood and Martin Park courts. I would like to see all City of
Boulder courts be converted to post tension concrete courts. I would also like to see the addition of
more dedicated pickle and tennis courts as well as a the addition of indoor courts and a tennis and
pickle ball center.
694 The two Martin Park courts are the only good courts in town. No pickle ball lines and no 10 and
under lines. All courts should have access to permanent restrooms.
695 The current situation for pickleball access is better than it was three years ago but the city has not
kept pace with other cities. We don't have any dedicated pickleball courts whereas other cities have
10, 20 or even 30 dedicated courts. We need to get with the times!
696 I like that the city has given the pickleball community more access to the tennis courts; however, the
city is way behind other cities in the metro area and around the country in providing dedicated
pickleball courts.
697 I like that they are utilized by a large number of people in the area. I don't love battling to find court
space. I don't love trying to find courts with lights. I don't love the quality of some of the courts,
which can be pretty bad. Also, some pickleball lines make tennis very challenging.
698 EBRC now has a permanent restroom. Don't know if it will be open the entire year. The other public
courts that have 4 or more courts should have some form of bathroom option - whether permanent or
port-a-potty. Re: reservations, There isn't an option to cancel, which would give person money back
BUT ALSO would show that the courts are available.
699 I like the recently improved courts at Tom Watson and elsewhere. It was difficult to have many out
of operation during prime tennis season, August, at the same time as Centennial school was back in
session. I recommend timing improvements better. Also for pickleball please place in areas where
noise will not impact nearby residents.
700 Please support an indoor facility with public access for pay, similar to Arvada, but with more indoor
courts.
701 I feel that the tennis courts currently available are in great condition. But for tennis players, it is
almost impossible to find a court to play on. So many are taken over by Pickleball at the North
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Boulder Rec and Bouder High practices at Centennial. Only 2 courts at Columbine, 2 at Knollwood,
4 at East Boulder Rec. , 4 at South Boulder Rec? maybe. NOT ENOUGH FOR ALL TENNIS
PLAYERS! There are over 300 members of RMTC who are going to be displaced. We have been a
tight group of players who all like to play at least once or twice a week. We are used to having a
"Bubble" for indoor tennis in the winter. City of Boulder needs to come up with a way to provide for
this large group of people. I would hope for new courts at any of the Rec Centers. There is room.
For being such a forward-looking town with the level of sophistication it has, as well as having a
major university, it is very surprising that the tennis community is not serviced appropriately.
702 Need more tennis courts. Reservations will become super important.
703 I have enjoyed playing all variety of racket sports here in Boulder (in order of frequency: tennis,
paddle, racquetball, pickle (and even squash at CU). I am concerned about a few different and related
issues:
1. Court condition: I'd like to see court surfaces maintained smarter; budgeting for proper and longer
lasting repair rather than repeated superficial top-surface patch/replacement. In our windy climate,
windscreens would be great if possible...
2. Court availability: We are experiencing increasing pressure on court accessibility due to increasing
demand for both tennis AND pickle. (The loss of RMTC and CU South will directly impact my
tennis.)
3. Boulder needs a dedicated tennis/pickle center for drop-in play, tournaments, events:
- There were plans at Valmont decades ago...what happened? The land is there, still fallow.
- I note that nearby (smaller) communities have a dedicated tennis center* that serves the racket sport
community. (e.g. Loveland, Longmont, Arvada...) I've done a lot of driving to those tennis centers
and would like to have one here in Boulder!
[*8, 12 or more tennis courts + dedicated pickle courts, permanent water and bathrooms, shelter
w/bulletin board...]
- With the loss of tennis courts at RMTC and CU South the demand for courts will increase even
more. We are left with two marginal** 8-court limited-access sites owned by BVSD Centennial &
Fairview.
[**Centennial and Fairview have limited access and there are no permanent bathrooms or water.]
While I would like to see a tennis center, my family and friends do use and value the 'pocket park'
courts around town. We often play at Columbine, Palo, Spruce, Martin Park...
We also play on the Rec Center (North, East, South) and BVSD courts (Centennial, Manhattan,
Fairview, New Vista) and Tom Watson Park and play outside Boulder at Centaurus, Louisville Rec
Center, Garfield Courts, Erie Rec Center, We have picked up pickle and play indoors and out at
EBRC and NBRC.
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704 CU south courts would be perfect, except they need a restroom
705 I like tennis courts without pickle ball lines. I'm concerned about pickle ball ruining existing courts
and the sound pollution it causes.
706 I play mostly on private courts
707 Convenient, easy to access and park.
What I don’t like is there are no lights and no indoor courts
708 Drop in at South Boulder Rec. would like nets on Foothills courts.
709 The city of boulder has far too few courts, both tennis and pickle ball, and the courts they do have are
in poor condition. Repairs that have been completed recently such as centennial have been very poor
with cracks developing within a year. There needs to be dedicated pickleball courts in addition to
tennis courts.
710 I like that there are courts in different areas of the city, but I do not like that there are very limited
facilities with 4 or more dedicated tennis courts for league and tournament play. A central area for
larger events is needed - something along the lines of Quail in Longmont or Apex in Arvada or
Denver Tennis Park - 10-12 courts with spectator seating, bathrooms, etc. Additionally, the
maintenance of courts has been so sporadic and behind any reasonable maintenance schedule that the
courts become unplayable or only marginally satisfactory for playing - even dangerous. Ex: Tom
Watson Park courts were just re-surfaced. Prior to resurfacing they were dangerous and unplayable
for at least a few years. Post re-surfacing there are several dead spots and some wavy areas on the
courts. I am curious to see how long the re-surfacing will hold up given the level of disrepair prior to
re-surfacing. Maintenance is critical.
711 They are beautiful and in great locations. I hope there will be more courts and easy ways to reserve
them online. Being able to play year-round.
712 Concerned that tennis courts are in very short supply in spite of growing tennis community.
713 Concerned about losing RMTC courts and CU SOUTH courts. I play at RMTC 3 days a week and am
worried about where I could play when they are gone!
714 I like the nets on wheels on the outdoor pickleball courts. Future hopes are dedicated PB courts with
permanent, durable nets (promised two years ago) as well as more courts total.
715 The City needs to help the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center find a new home.
716 Limited availability
717 I like the general public access to courts, but I would hope for resurfacing, more indoor courts, more
lights, and dividers between public courts
718 Having a place where everyone can play and have fun and not have to deal with cliques, and people
hogging courts
719 I like that there are a lot of courts available across the three rec centers. I would really like to see a
dedicated time slot for open play for beginners/advanced beginners at least one day a week. The
YMCA on 28th St. already does this twice a week. The Louisville Rec Center does this at least once a
week. Currently Intermediate and advanced players dominate open play time slots. Especially at the
North Boulder rec center. Neither skill level is benefited by being forced to play with the other skill
level.
720 It would be nice to have more tennis courts.
721 Longmont rec center tennis courts are amazing. Thank you!! Well built, centrally located, plentiful,
and lights that are conducive to play without the hassle of coin operation.
722 They belong to all citizens of Boulder
723 Some tennis courts are in great condition. Others (e.g., Centennial) need repair. Reservation system is
clumsy. Could use more indoor options.
724 They are convenient and easy to reserve.
725 The City of Boulder does not currently maintain its existing courts and there is very limited lighted
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courts and no indoor courts. My biggest hope is that the City of Boulder would build a tennis facility
which had a minimum of 5 INDOOR courts and outdoor courts WITH LIGHTS.
726 The lessons for tennis are great. I do wish there were any options for lessons for men after advanced
beginner, or removing the gendered aspect to the 2.5-3.5 level.
727 We need the city to complete upgrades and new Pickleball courts they promised two years ago at
EBRC. We do need “dedicated“ pickle ball courts. Boulder has 0! Both comparable and many smaller
cities do have dedicated PB courts. For example, a Gunnison county has 11. I hope the city will
recognize that pickle ball replaced tennis as the most popular rocket sport nationwide last year, and
with boulders aging population Pickleball is a more suitable sport for older people over tennis. It
would also be good if the city would make the existing tennis courts multi use and stripe them in such
a way that they can be used for pickle ball, also.
728 I live in south Boulder and we play mostly at Fairview now and East Boulder CC since South Boulder
Rec has been given over to pickle ball. For league matches, where we need five courts together, we
have been forced to rent from CU or BVSD. It’s sad that we cannot use city courts anymore because
pickleball lines have been added instead of adopting to the juniors lines already on the courts. I hope
BP&R can find a way to preserve tennis courts used solely for tennis as the most enjoyable thing I do
in tennis is play in the USTA and CTA leagues. Boulder has some of the most beautiful venues for
tennis in know and love playing here, but we have lost the BP&R courts I am used to playing on and
enjoying to pickle ball. It is great to see the growing popularity of this new sport, but it’s sad it see us
losing the use of city courts because the PB lines make using them for league impossible and
confusing.
729 Facilities have been lacking for years both in quality and quantity. These sports are both so important
and beneficial to the community.
730 Having pickleball courts enables me to play pickleball.
731 Would be nice to have more courts and possibly a sports center with indoor options. A place for
practicing against a backboard/wall in North Boulder needed
732 I hope that there are separate tennis courts and pickleball is moved to a separate location where nose
is not impacting neighbors
733 The City of Boulder has not planned or created an environment for either tennis or pickle ball, and the
entire environment needs to be fully overhauled in order to start again with a new facility of 12-16
outdoor courts and 4-6 indoor courts. The current system is not at all within the standards of the
racquet sports industry for public parks and rec.
734 1) create Pball pop-up courts on the weekend in office parking lots. Maybe lock boxes for equipment.
2) layouts can allow 3 or 4 Pball courts on one tennis court if sharing is necessary
3) possible additional tennis courts: Palo Park, Arapahoe Ridge why not resurface instead of replace
(much higher costs in the budget)?
4) Look into purchasing/leasing private courts that may be underutilized and/or are in poor condition.
Some HOAs might like some $$
5) Tennis court complex at the airport? New Rec Center? Bond issue.
6) I thought the contractor for the Centennial courts was going to repair the poor resurfacing job they
did
7) Reservation system does not cover BVSD courts (Centennial). Could be allowed after hours and on
weekends
8) Find a way to recycle tennis ball cans
9) How about a city run league and/or ladder?
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Thanks!
735 I like that you at least make tennis courts available for pickleball, but there are no dedicated pickleball
courts--Boulder is woefully behind every other city. I like that we can reserve pickleball courts, but
there needs to be more courts to reserve as the competition for the few courts is a battle. There are a
lot of people who play for free on someone else's reservation. You could bring in much more revenue
if you could find a way to have those people who have silver sneakers or other memberships pay for
playing. With the additional revenue, hopefully you could put it towards building dedicated
pickleball courts so the pickleball players don't have to be the ones ousted when there are tennis
tournaments or lessons. The biggest concern is Boulder not keeping up with the explosion of
pickleball players.
736 More tennis courts! Available water
More shade restrooms
737 Tennis and PB are increasing in popularity. We need courts dedicated to each sport. RMTC was a
place for all to play, but particularly important for jrs , srs, wheelchair players and the CU women’s
team. The city is losing an important hub for inclusivity.
738 Can cu allow public use of their tennis courts? A winter court. Shade. Keep the current system it
works well. Don’t change anything.
739 There isn't anything to like about p ball taking the tennis courts. The condition of the courts has been
unacceptable and quite dangerous. There is no reason for this wealthy city full of athletes to have
broken down courts, no pools and unmaintained rec centers. It's a disgrace and embarrassing for our
leagues to play here. CU should be helping with courts since they are taking over our city.
740 They are available for open play and also for online reservations.
741 Appreciate how dispersed they are around town for supporting community play, a central tennis
center is what Boulder needs with covered/uncovered, hard and clay (Har-Tru), seating and shaded
areas. Thanks for your consideration!
742 No opinion
743 The tennis community is welcoming. I can show up looking for a match and most often find someone
who wants to play. The ability to hit against a wall if solo is important
744 Hope to see more courts for tennis and Pickleball ( of all our surrounding cities Boulder Courts are
shameful
745 More organized courts in Boulder county
746 Very concerned that tennis courts will be duel lines and pball will overtake courts . Also concerned
about pball noise near tennis cts.
747 I like that you are asking about my tennis/pb concerns. I play both sports and belong to a private
tennis club and a private pickleball club because the public courts are lacking. Roll out nets for pb on
a tennis court is no where near the experience of playing on a dedicated pb court with permanent nets.
To play with friends that don’t belong to my private club, I have to go to Longmont or Superior to get
good courts.
Trying to get courts for BTA tennis leagues is really difficult. 5 tennis courts together, are perfect for
league. With CU South closing, that’s not going to be an option. And where are people going to play
on snowy days without belonging to a private club. With RMTC closing, there are no realistic options
for people that aren’t lucky enough to already be members of a club with inflorescence courts and a
membership waitlist that is over 10 years long!
748 Lots of people playing pickleball. I like that we will have full-time permanent Pickleball courts
749 There is a need for enough courts to accommodate for tennis league play (required to NOT be lined
for pickleball) as well as support the growing pickleball community. League tennis generally
requires 4-5 courts at the same location so is very challenging with the current availability.
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750 Right now I play at Rocky Mountain tennis center. Since that facility is going away I am very
interested in more available city courts and very important to me would be a indoor tennis facility for
winter play.
751 I play mainly at Palo Park. I like recent improvements, the parkland location and ease of parking.
752 I appreciate that the city has made recent investments in resurfacing courts and that there are hopes
for more courts and year-round facilities to be built around the city and county. I believe what the city
should do is to build courts that are dedicated to each tennis and pickleball to allow for players of
each sport to find available spaces without hindering the other.
I also believe that there are many areas in our parks that are underutilized, specifically in areas that
were set aside for volleyball many years ago. Those courts are no longer used at all and nearly all
have fallen into disrepair. These spaces are ideal for repurposing as they are already in our public
parks and can add services without the need for massive infrastructure improvements in the short
term.
For the long term, it would be great to see a dedicated racket sports facility. Ideally it would include
indoor courts or at least courts that could be covered with a bubble for winter play. It should also have
restrooms, covered areas for shade, seating for spectators and a management office/pro shop.
753 The are in pretty good shape for the most part
754 I like the hitting walls at East Rec and Tom Watson and think we should add more in any new courts.
We need a tennis center complete with indoor courts for tennis and pickleball and a viewing stands at
a court we could host tennis events. A place Boulder can be proud of. Run by a contractor ( Gonzo ).
755 Appreciate the work on Tom Watson courts
756 More dedicated pickleball courts are needed.
Convert Tom Watson Park to dedicated courts.
757 I would love an indoor facility like in Arvada! I would play all the time, very important to me and
my family/friends in the community.
758 Reserved courts that are left unused should be accountable. Cancellations would allow for last minute
play, even if $$ is not returned maybe a small penalty for no-show would incentivize cancellations.
759 I am in RMTC, which is about to go away, so I am hoping more courts can be available to play with
the groups I've met. I'm about 2 years out on Meadows waiting list. I like the Knoll Wood courts and
use them occasionally. Just concerned where I'll play next year.
760 We need tennis courts to stay tennis courts don’t take them away to make pickleball courts please!
761 I hope that all the tennis courts are not gobbled up by pickle ballers
762 The price is so reasonable. I like that they are public so you can play with anybody. I belong to
Meadows so public courts let me play outside of the club.
763 I like that EBCC and Watson Park have practice walls
Would like portable toilets at each location
764 Drop in PB is working well- nbrc, SBRC. Columbine and Palo park tennis courts could easily
accommodate PB courts
Chautauqua is dangerously slick
All surfaces need attention (do any of the P&R board play?). And shade structures?
Please, please go visit APEX in Arvada and Mehaffey park in Loveland (same size community as
Boulder) with ~ 12 dedicated courts. How’d they do that?
Buena vista has 6 dedicated, lit courts
Concerns- our tax dollars vs your agenda and popular will are not aligned
I experienced this years ago through BAM and pool access
Our consensus is also that Gonzo is poisoning the pond
Shift change here. Do any of you remember how dominant racquetball was? Virtually gone. Courts
shifted, and space was reallocated
That is happening now. Some folks just don’t like change
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765 The issues I see currently are that the tennis community and interest has grown significantly over the
last 20 years. The amount of courts we have do not support the demand. Also, there needs to be
public courts available at all parts of the city - even annexed neighborhoods outside the physical city
limits. With one of the major tennis facilities closing soon, it is critical that the City of Boulder step
up to support this growing sport and the citizens.
766 I like the resurfaced courts at Martin, Palo, and Tom Watson parks. My hope is that the city will
establish a more vigilant maintenance schedule for the courts we do have left. I hope we will get
designated tennis courts, not only at the facilities we have so far, but also at a new (maybe
publicly/privately funded) facility which will have many courts, some indoor, with no pickle ball
lines on them. I hope that the Valmont City Park area can be developed to accommodate a tennis
facility. My concerns are that we are losing rather than gaining tennis courts and the ones we still
have are being taken over. or painted on, by pickle ball players. The pickle ball players need their
own designated courts. Also, League tennis really has very little options for hosting matches.
767 I like playing pickleball at NBRC.
768 I would really like dedicated pickleball courts
769 Great surfaces right now, currently somewhat easy to find a court. Hope it remains the same for
Tennis.
770 I'm glad that there are courts, but dedicated pickleball courts seem appropriate given the growth of the
sport and the number of players in Boulder
771 There are courts available but not nearly enough and they are generally in poor condition
772 Tom Watson courts used to be great. Now they are a total disaster. How did this happen?
773 Too few pickle ball. Both types need indoor facilities.
774 The start to this is to note that there are ZERO dedicated Pickleball courts in the City of Boulder with
a population of 100,000. The online reservations system used to be functional but has been usurped
by tennis interests. I like the locations of the courts around but most of them are in terrible repair and
NONE are Pball only.
I hope that someone in the City actually uses this information to make real changes to support it's
aging population whom the majority are Pickleball players, not tennis players.
There area lot of polls and information gathering but not a lot of action. It would be cost effective to
change tennis courts to pickleball. If you even charged a dollar per person for an hour, the city would
make money!
775 I like how easy it is to reserve tennis courts at EBCC, even on the weekend. I avoid SBCC because of
pickleball noise. I hope we don't lose more tennis courts to pickleball, especially at EBCC.
776 Youth programming
777 I love that both sports are being played a lot. I am concerned that many tennis courts are being
converted to pickleball courts. I want both to continue to grow.
778 Boulder is SO FAR BEHIND every other place I have played. And now we're studying. Also the
meeting on 10/5 was horribly advertised by the city. SHAPE UP.
779 I play on the Martin Park courts only. I belong to an association with courts that I also use.
780 They are well maintained. Hopes: The city recognizes the need for year round tennis facilities and the
importance of tennis on a multigenerational community. Concerns: over development is pushing out
land for tennis. Also please keep brooms at courts to brush off leaves and debris! The older couple
down the street from me has to bring their own broom to Martin Park!
781 I live in south boulder and love having the courts so close by. However, they are in really poor shape.
And, they are never open to tennis playing, as they are always taken by pickleball players. Also, not
everyone adheres to the reservation system. We need more courts in south boulder and an
improvement on the existing ones!
782 Good condition and maintenance, but just not nearly enough pickleball courts.
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783 You missed on the closure of RMTC. Known for 4 years and the only action is this survey.
784 I am always happy to see managed facilities with strong adult programs.
785 For my friends in Boulder who can reserve courts, that's great. I appreciate the courts at the rec
centers and a few other that are in good shape. I hope we can approve a new facility in the county
with indoor courts and if possible outside lights. I am concerned that many of the RMTC members
will be left high & dry when RMTC closes. I am a charter member of RMTC (1977) and most of my
friends are members; with it's demise, I worry about my reduced social network of seeing friends in
on place.
786 The wording of this question is weighted toward a kudos to the City. How about what we dislike?
Courts are in poor repair, do not like multi-use courts, no seating provided, no bathrooms at courts. It
is nice to reserve courts, but the system is terrible.
787 There seem to be plenty of indoor and outdoor pickleball courts but no indoor city tennis courts and
not enough outdoor tennis courts.
788 temporary courts are nice but not really the best option
789 I love that the tennis courts for the most part are in good shape and maintained. What is most
distressing though for anyone in the tennis community is the displacement of courts for pickle ball.
Not only is pickle ball a nuisance in terms of ambient noise, but it deters from the enjoyment of the
game of tennis if courts are located in the same place. I think the city should have dedicated pickle
ball courts in locations where the noise does not disrupt neighbors/residents and dedicated tennis
facilities that do not allow pickleball. There are myriad lawsuits around the country regarding pickle
ball and the noise that is created so I think if the city of Boulder is forward thinking with respect to
those complaints but also enabling those who enjoy pickle ball to continue to be able to play, there
can be a decent solution across the board to maintain and expand tennis facilities and have pickle ball
as well.
790 I think many of them are in good shape and the reservation process is easy
791 I like that the SBRC has many courts in one location so folks don't drive from rec center to rec center
looking for adequate play. My dream is that a pickleball center like APEX in Arvada would come to
Boulder - lots of courts to accommodate drop-in play, leagues and tournaments.
792 Nice court surface & nets
Perhaps put up nets between the courts to stop the balls from going into other courts which is
dangerous
793 Thank you for providing the number of courts we currently have and thank you for listening to the
feedback from the pickleball community. I look forward to when there are more pickleball courts;
hopefully, there will be dedicated courts in the inventory.
794 Availability is pretty good. Free is good. So many cracks though
795 I like that so many schools are included as courts that the public is allowed to play on.
796 Need dedicated pickleball courts.
797 I’m concerned about courts at north Boulder rec being pushed out by pickleball
798 I do like that we have a program through gonzo, but do wish we had a facility like Arvada to play all
year. This would be huge for our whole family. The private tennis clubs are expensive and tough to
get into.
799 I love the inclusive nature of pickleball. The drop-in hours allow a wide range of people to join in and
the community that has grown is welcoming and supportive. I would like to see more support for drop
in play both in adding additional times, especially on the weekends, and in providing more
organization/signage to clarify which courts are drop in and how the drop in works.
800 Leagues that are not USA
Clinics
801 The number and condition of SOME of the tennis courts. But should be a TENNIS facility
considering the number of serious tennis players.
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802 Have more indoor courts so that kids serious about tennis are able to continue playing in winter and
spring time when it snows a lot.
803 Not enough courts. Existing courts are poorly maintained.
804 The courts in Boulder are great, though we definitely need more, as there are so many players now,
oftentimes competing for court time. With RMTC closing, it seems like a good time for the City to
establish some indoor courts, perhaps similar to the public/private partnership they have in Steamboat
(https://steamboattennisandpickleball.com/)
805 Important recreation and enhanced quality of life for the community.
806 Indoor/covered tennis courts for winter play
807 I would love to see dedicated pickleball courts, more pickleball courts and more open play with
different levels. Thank you for all you do!
808 I’m very dissatisfied with the reservation system - the city of Louisville uses a first come first served
system which is much more friendly to casual tennis with family and my kids. The reservation system
forces planning and leaves out room for spontaneity. I’m also deeply saddened that all courts at
SBRC are no longer useable for tennis… all the pickleball lines, nets and use for only pickleball
809 I think they are in condition, but I think it’s important to have designated pickle ball and designated
tennis courts - so there is less conflict.
810 Knollwood courts are quiet, somewhat shady and nice.
811 I’d love to be able to play in the winter having some indoor space or cover for existing courts to keep
them dry and usable. It’s a pity that we can’t practice for 4-5 months. It would also be great to add
some shade, to protect our skin, improve visibility and keep people cooler in the summer months.
812 At least there are some courts to use, and most courts are in decent, if not good, shape. I fear that
court availability will become even worse than it is now. I hope that present courts can be maintained
more regularly and that more courts can be built soon. An indoor facility, particularly for tennis,
would be nice to have.
813 Pickleball is supported in nearly every major city in Colorado except for Boulder and Louisville. The
number of participants is growing and the demographics are expanding from 20-80 year olds. Golf,
tennis and outdoor basketball participation is at best staying flat and are dwarfed by the number of
pickleball players funds need to go towards the largest number of citizens that would benefit. Please
look at what cities like Denver, Steamboat Springs, and Grand Junction are doing to support
pickleball.
814 I like the drop-in hours for pickleball. We should have a tennis facility like Arvada.
815 I like that there are some courts with open play and reservation capability. The courts need better
care, and we need more dedicated courts and multi-purpose courts. In general more capacity, and
including more modern design and services.
816 I love that there are so many community centers with tennis courts, spread out around the city. I also
love that they're so inexpensive to book. It's always a great time.
Regarding booking, the online system is not user friendly. Once you get the hang of it, it gets easier,
but the experience remains far from intuitive. I really recommend revising the full UX.
I also wish it were possible to modify existing bookings. Full refunds for cancellations within, say,
24-48 hours of the reserved time would be nice too.
Lastly, I wish there were some indoor and covered courts to play in the winter. The court experience
is fantastic during the warm months, but I'm sad that it won't be possible to enjoy it as much, if at all,
during the upcoming cold weather season.
817 Need more stand alone pickleball courts vs multipurpose
818 The on-line reservation system and the active community that loves tennis and pickleball
819 Finally improved Paolo Park courts. Don’t like giving Centennial courts to the school.
820 The Knollwood courts are the best in central Boulder. A restroom there would be helpful. I like that
the reservation fee is reasonable. Tennis courts should not be used for or converted to pickleball.
They are not compatible. I hope for more dedicated tennis courts the quality of Knollwood.
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821 Not enough tennis courts. Ban pickleball
822 I like the location of the Louisville rec center courts and the fact that there is a restroom available and
additional water if needed, a small shade structure/bench. It would be great to be able to use these
courts for league play. Monarch High courts are plentiful but have large slopes. I would hope for an
indoor tennis facility so we could play locally in the winter.
823 East is nice but have to buy tokens for lights when open which can be challenging
824 Great condition
825 Reservation is relatively easy when courts are available.
826 Please add Pickleball courts and a league
827 Existing court reservation site is difficult to find/ navigate to
828 We desperately need more tennis courts. New courts, indoor and outdoor, need to be built. New
courts need to be post-tensioned concrete and existing courts need to be replaced with post-tensioned
concrete. Resurfacing over existing asphalt courts is a waste of money.
829 Sometimes when I’m playing and I look at the mountains I can’t believe I get to live here. Gorgeous
settings and beautiful views
830 I like that they are well maintained.
831 I wish RMTC was staying instead of being turned into student housing.
832 I like how tennis courts are located in neighborhoods and usually are easy to reach within 10 minutes
or less for me.
833 I play at EBRC and NBRC for tennis. It's easy to make reservations. I usually drive out to Longmont
(Quail courts and LAC for indoor usage and tournaments)
834 Tennis courts at EBCC and SBRC are nice.
835 Boulder should model their public tennis after Steamboat! It’s ridiculous that there isn’t a public club
in the city considering the size and the 7 year wait list at the meadows. Pickle ball is everywhere
836 I like how we have some tennis & pickleball courts. I’d love to see a lighted complex with at least 6
dedicated pickleball courts (though more would be better like at Apex)
837 It is very hard to get tennis/pickleball reservations at North Boulder Rec. Would like group classes for
ages 5+.
838 Must do away 100% with multi-use approach. Total failure. Critical there be one or two complexes of
dedicated tennis & PB courts. Ideally indoor facilities for both sports ASAP.
839 There don’t seem to be many public tennis courts in Boulder. The courts that are available aren’t in
great shape. It would be WONDERFUL to have a facility like the Arvada Tennis Center.
840 First, we have them. Second, you are taking an interest in seeing what the community has to say.
841 I am a member of Millenium, and I play singles twice a week nights in the bubble throughout the fall,
winter and spring. The most important improvement you can make is a facility where this could
continue after Millenium is gone. I'm 71 and this keeps my healthy. I'm certainly willing to pay for
the privilege.
842 South Community center is perfect to convert to Pickleball only. - no tennis lines. Double the courts.
This location could be the central hub for Boulder.
843 I love playing tennis in Boulder but would like to see more courts and covered courts for all winter
play. Thanks!
844 I am not pleased with anything to do with the tennis situation in Boulder How can one be pleased
about a disaster? Some how, the City, private investors and the University have to solve this issue
NOW. On Tuesday October 3, I was hitting tennis balls with my friend, Ted Gammon [Between the
two of us we have played recreational tennis for 90 years]. The Eisenhower courts are unplayable, but
we hit balls on the east court and are careful. As careful as we were, Ted managed to trip on the
south baseline crack and fell to the court and had fractures in his hand. He is seeing hand specialist
today at Boulder Community. Take the nets down on both courts and lock the gates so no one can do
anything on these horrible concrete cracks. Keep people safe. There is a huge market for tennis and
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pickle ball in Boulder. Revenue can be generated. Universities and Communities have joined to
supply racquet sports throughout the US. CU may have to drop women's tennis because they can't get
access to facilities. What happens to the high schools if they can't find indoor courts. I recognize that
Alison Rhodes has been handed mess, but just because no one has cared about tennis for thirty years
doesn't mean this wonderful sport has to be canceled.
845 Concerns about pickle ball court lines being drawn on tennis courts. Also the popularity of pickle ball
makes reserving tennis courts impossible (if the courts are combined). The noise of pickle ball is
obnoxious.
846 I like the current tennis courts but we could use more options, especially covered chords so we can
play all season. Season. I am concerned about having pickleball lines drawn on tennis courts as that is
very distracting and difficult to play.
847 We desperately need more courts, especially winter courts and tennis facilities. For non members,
RMTC provides a lot of access but it is going away. Where will people play who can’t afford the wait
or money at meadows or BCC. What I like is that there are summer courts.
848 There are approx. 320,000 USTA league tennis players nationally, and the Denver/Boulder area ranks
consistently in the top two or three metro areas in the nation in league participation. And league
tennis has a 30+ year history in Boulder. And yet because of current Boulder Parks policy, there were
no functional Parks courts to host league matches this year (league play requires at least three non-
pickleball lined courts in the same location). East Boulder Rec (EBRC) would be the only Parks
courts to meet this description, but Parks does not allow league play there. In addition, EBRC has
functioned for some time now as "tennis central" for Boulder tennis players, whereas SBRC is for all
intents now the main Boulder pickleball hub. I can see no advantage to upsetting that status quo for
players of either sport. Finally, Boulder desperately needs more courts of both types to ease the
ongoing competition between sports. Boulder's 30-year moratorium on building new courts has
created the crisis situation we're in now.
849 I like the price; I like that they are located conveniently around Boulder; I like that rec center
members like me can reserve for free; I like not being a member of an expensive tennis club; I like
that some of them have lights
850 WE need to have a tennis center with indoors courts during the winter months. It can permanent
indoors or a bubble.
851 Need organized drills classes
852 I am very concerned that there are not designated courts for each sport.
853 partner with retail business that has experience
854 Court 5 has a great and traditionally heavily used (by tennis players) practice wall. I personally have
been using it for over 20 years. Unfortunately, this court has been taken over by pickleball and is
rarely available now for hitting against the wall.
I understand the plan is to add 4 dedicated pickleball courts at East Boulder. Please (when this is
completed) discontinue the use of court 5 for pickleball.
I also understand the Arapahoe Ridge courts are scheduled to be resurfaced. Please consider replacing
the fences at the same time (which are very beat up), and at least make sure the transition from court
to fence is fixed/improved, as it currently traps balls in tall grass/weeds and makes them hard to
locate and retrieve.
855 I like the online reservation system. Would love indoor courts to play in winter and spring.
856 Playing
857 I like the PB courts that are available, but many more courts are needed
858 Build something like the Quail courts at the south Longmont Rec Center. Excellent facility.
859 I hope that the city will recognize that the number of tennis courts is diminishing over the next couple
of years with the removal of CU South courts and the Rocky Mountain tennis Center courts, that’s
over 20 quarts right there and in addition a significant number of been taken over for use for pickle
ball. Please, please, please ensure that the remaining tennis courts off the tennis court use only And if
there is a need for more pickle ball courts then by all means build as many as there is a need for, but
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not at the expense of the current tennis courts.
860 Too few courts. The mixed tennis and pickleball does not work.
Some courts are not well maintained.
861 I believe it is absolutely critical to replace the indoor courts in the Boulder/Boulder County area in the
short term and to replace the CU South outdoor courts when that area is developed in the future.
862 Would like a public indoor tennis facility such the one in Arvada
863 well maintained
864 Like being able to reserve online. Wish it was easier to reserve multiple courts at one time.
865 I like the number of courts but some are in such poor condition that it is not possible to use them or
using them puts a player at high risk of injury. I play tennis at Rocky Mountain Tennis. Those courts
are always full and lessons are fully booked. It is wonderful to see tennis players from 5-90, with
varying disabilities including wheelchairs, out on those courts. It will be a tragedy to lose those
courts, especially in the wintertime when they are really tennis players only option to have a chance
to play.
866 Locations
867 locations are good but facilities need a lot of work. Pickleball needs new, dedicated courts. If you can
do an airport surely 10 to 15 pickleball courts is not that hard. Hey maybe courts on the runways...
868 Nothing is good about what Boulder has currently. The loss of Rmtc is devastating to the community,
children and disabled.. tragically sad..
869 I like that there are plenty of public courts for good weather months. Concerned about limited options
during winter.
870 I like the availability of tennis courts. I can normally find a court to play on when I want to play. My
main concern would be if tennis courts were converted to pickle ball, or the existing courts were not
maintained
871 There should never be dual lines on existing tennis courts for pickle ball play, and pickle ball should
have its own courts that are far enough away from existing tennis courts and residences that the noise
from the wooden/plastic paddles and plastic balls don't reach either existing tennis courts or existing
residences.
872 I hope that more tennis courts will be added because I often have to drive around to multiple locations
to find an open court. I’m concerned that pickleball courts will take too many tennis courts, and the
noise of pickleball is a nuisance that can really disturb communities and distracts from tennis
matches. I hope separate pickleball facilities can be developed.
873 They have typically been in horrible shape. I am thrilled to see the Watson Park courts resurfaced.
Keeping court surfaces and nets in reasonably good shape is the best thing you can do. Adding
seating and restrooms is a big bonus.
874 I like that they're accessible to all who want to play and reserve them and that they're spread out
across different neighborhoods.
875 I am very happy that Tom Watson courts, and Palo Park courts have been resurfaced and in are in
much better condition. Thanks!
I think the most important thing the city can to do for tennis and pickle ball players is to add a facility
that would allow us to play indoor too. It would be great to use during the cold months as well as the
middle of summer when it’s too hot to play in the middle of the day as well as provide more courts
with lights to play in the evening.
876 The pocket courts that have been maintained are nice. Appreciate the updates to Tom Watson and
Palo.
877 Not much... poor condition, limited professional classes... and that's the "good stuff". Not nearly
enough courts in one location.
878 Good locations mostly in good condition
879 Hope for indoor courts for winter
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880 The courts at EBRC are good.
881 Other than loosing 15 tennis courts to development the rest of the court options are just OK
882 Beautiful location to play but overall boulder has too few courts.
883 I am concerned that pickleball players are more vocal and newly excited and are squeezing out the
robust tennis community.
884 new to this
885 Pb is taking over. Need courts dedicated to tennis in boulder
886 No answer
887 n/a
888 We typically prefer using Rocky mtn tennis but now the college has taken over property. Our
absolute favorite tennis facility in front range is Gates Denver public/private partnership . How we
would love to have a Gates in Boulder
889 Need more indoor courts
890 good to have tennis courts and pickleball courts but they aren't well maintained, to have better
maintenance, better improvement and more courts would be great.
891 More accessible. It is very hard to find any court time!
892 I just started playing pickleball and I have not found the city courts or programming accessible. I
have been playing privately, indoor. Most importantly, my teens like it and I think there could be a
great youth program.
893 spruce courts are beautiful
894 I like the fact that there are tennis courts and that NBRC allocated 2 courts to tennis. I don't like
shared space for tennis and pickle ball because the usage is different and disruptive to tennis
895 The things that I like about the city's tennis/pickleball courts currently is their location. I live in North
Boulder, and there are 3 different places I can think of off the top of my head where I can play tennis.
I think that more courts should be accessible to the public as there is massive demand but limited
supply. This could be through brokering a deal with BVSD allowing more access during school
hours. This could be done through building more courts, though Boulders convenient places for
development are limited. I also think that court quality is important. Multiple times throughout this
survey it mentions daily maintenance, but I don't think that is very necessary. When the Centennial
courts were available (currently they are quite inaccessible as you can't play during school hours)
every few years a mediocre crew would come in and fix the courts. I think a good way to save money
and time would instead bring in a very well established renowned tennis/pickleball court crew to do a
good job for more expense, but then the courts would last longer. My last thing that is very important
for my experience is sperate courts for pickleball and tennis, but I don't think separate locations
matter very much.
896 We need indoor tennis courts. RMTC is going away, and Meadows has a 7+ year wait list. Soon there
will be no indoor courts for winter for rec players or the CU team.
897 convenient; I HOPE for more courts, indoor facilities, permanent restrooms, no cracks or dead spots
in the courts
898 We need indoor courts!! There is NOTHING! Having moved from the NY. area, we thought there
would be more by way of lessons but there is not much at all in the Boulder area. Gonzo needs to be
able to offer a higher quality class in the winter (gyms are terrible). It’s really sad
899 Picklers should develop their own infrastructure and not take courts that have been for tennis for the
past 40 or 50 years. Tennis is still popular in Boulder and has worked hard to provide enough tennis
courts that there are four or more private groups with tennis in addition to the courts that are available
now that for some reason pickleball is allowed to use. It is noisy, slow-paced, and prone to injuries.
You can play pickleball if you want but don't steal our courts. Next, they will want ball fields, golf
courses, basketball courts and more. I am against the city pitting the two groups against each other
and find funding for pickleball courts. You could put 8 courts in your parking lot and encourage your
77
employees to take public transit.
900 There are no indoor courts available in Boulder that aren't privately operated.
901 I like we have court to rent
902 I like that there are some you have to reserve and some that you can just show up -- I think that
should be more clear, though. Like a list of all the courts in boulder, and whether or not you need
reservations at them, if you can play after school hours, etc.
903 That there are courts dedicated to tennis only! Pickleball lines limit tennis league play on tennis
courts
904 Hope to get indoor facility, similar to Apex in Arvada
905 I like when I can get a court reservation & the court is in good shape - nets working & no cracks!
906 I like their locations, but wish there were more at each location and would love to see a tennis
complex built with multiple courts on one site similar to the Quail courts in Longmont and especially
would love for Boulder to build separate tennis courts and pickleball courts for the public.
907 My hope for the future is more access to courts. There are not enough in Boulder to meet the demand.
908 I like that they exist and I know people love Gonzo tennis, but that's it. Our courts are an
embarrassment. All the surrounding cities have beautiful facilities. Leagues hate coming to Boulder
for matches. We've had teams offer to host us as the home team to avoid playing on our poorly
maintained, sometimes dangerous, courts. Why do we pay so much to live here when the amenities
are falling apart? In regards to the reservation system, you should not be able to pick a specific
pickleball court. Often, at North Boulder, pickleballers will spread out over all the tennis courts, using
only half of each court, instead of booking both sides of courts to maximize the available space. The
reservation system should fill in pickleball reservations automatically to optimize the space.
909 I like the Knollwood courts. They’re in good shape and beautiful but the city needs to make a major
investment in its sporting facilities. You build for the homeless but don’t take care of it’s tax paying
residents
910 There is no mention of handball courts in this survey which is a terrible oversight of how popular and
important handball is to the Latino community in Boulder. There are only 3 (?) handball courts I
know of at EBRC and you often see dozens of men waiting to play. These aren't complicated courts --
they are concrete walls and it's played with one ball and your hand. I already raised this issue of
addressing the athletic and community needs of our Latino population with the city rec office about 5
years ago. I really hope you do your research and realize that addressing tennis and pickleball
concerns is culturally tone deaf to the popularity of handball. Pls see Colorado Public Radio story
here about handball in Denver: https://www.cpr.org/2019/10/28/in-this-denver-neighborhood-
handball-helps-keep-old-denver-bouncing-along/
911 I like the tennis courts and tennis. I do not like the sound of pickle ball being played in our
neighborhood.
912 Ability to reserve courts is great, some courts are in terrible disrepair(Arapahoe Ridge), the lack of
available of any covered or indoor courts in this climate is frustrating and local tennis clubs no longer
accept people on the waiting list.
913 Many locations to choose from but the demand for court time outstrips demand.
914 T
915 I love the staff at Rocky Mountain. I would like for them to be able to keep a program somewhere in
Boulder. Preferably East Boulder.
916 Have played only at the Knollwood and North Boulder Rec Ctr courts. Knollwood are very nice.
NBRC are OK.
917 I am concerned there are not enough courts to meet demand with RMTC leaving.
918 Tennis and pickleball facilities should be separate.
919 Some courts are very well maintained, and courts that have remained for EITHER pickleball OR
tennis are much better than courts trying to combine the two. The situation at the South Boulder rec
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center, which has been overtaken by pickleball, is a disaster and that situation should be avoided in
the future.
920 Locations and proximity to shade trees
921 Rocky Mountain Tennis Center is fantastic. I’m worried they won’t have a place to go once their
lease is up.
922 Good condition of courts
Would like to see many courts with lighting for nighttime play
923 Like the community spirit, but frankly there are just not enough courts. Would love to see some
indoor tennis and pickleball courts.
924 I like that there are courts all over the city. I prefer dedicated tennis courts so the lines are not
confusing while playing.
925 I like how tennis courts are located throughout the city as well as in neighborhoods.
I hope that we can create designated pickleball courts so that tennis and pickleball do not have to
share. I hope that all of the courts will be well maintained- please keep money in the budget to keep
them nice so we can be proud of our courts and have legit matches etc.
926 I hope there are some indoor tennis courts available for organized lesson & play for youth like the
bubble which is being torn down.
927 We need more tennis courts
928 In general, just need more courts (pickleball & tennis).
929 There is a need for dedicated tennis courts so people can play official matches.
930 The Rocky Mountain Tennis Center is getting bulldozed this spring. They have 13 courts that are
used by the community (CU, Boulder High) and they offer a large variety of classes and coaching.
This is a community resource. Currently there are not many courts to play tennis on in Boulder and
the max concentration (4 courts) appears in Gunbarrel at the Tom Watson Park far away from the
city. The city desperately needs to be a lot more tennis courts and also offer classes, coaching etc.
since RMTC is leaving. The most upsetting thing about the development proposal is that the tennis
center will be bulldozed, the bike path renovation and pickleball courts put as a replacement!! What
is going on?
931 I like that there are courts and a reservation system for tennis at recreation centers in Boulder and
lighting at some of the courts. My future hopes would be to have a public tennis facility much like
that of Arvada Apex. A place that would provide courts dedicated for year round league play,
tournaments, university matches, events (fundraising or educational), lessons (group, private, drop-
in), and recreational play. My hope for the future of PB is much the same, however, due to the noise
level of the game, future locations should be carefully planned with respect to residential areas.
My future concerns for tennis in Boulder county is the lack of tennis courts for the growing number
of tennis players as well as the inadequate availability of indoor tennis.
My concerns for PB is the lack of dedicated pb courts. PB should not be piggybacking onto tennis
courts. Also, my concern for the future of PB is the location of where courts could be added with
concern for the amount of noise pollution the sport generates.
932 For the most part, they are located in good spots. But with losing RMTC and CU South courts soon,
we need more dedicated tennis courts. Pickleball needs their own courts. We need a tennis campus
like Quail Courts in Longmont or Apex in Arvada. Also need more courts with lights and lights that
work - NBRC court lights are horrible. Almost every court in Longmont has lights.
933 Boulder is the currently the focus of the north metro area for competitive tennis. If we lose RMTC &
CU south without replacement courts then Boulder will cease to be one of the special locations in this
state for high level junior & adult tennis.
As far as pickleball, there is vacant indoor space in many locations. They should work to set up their
own courts and minimize sharing with tennis.
79
934 Love RMTC, and the condition of the Knollwood Courts. Also Gonzo and his programs.
935 We need more lights and indoor courts. Look at APEX for ideas of what we need. There is no
reason Arvada can afford amazing facilities and Boulder can not.
936 More courts
937 We are very lucky to have access to free courts, we just need more of them to accommodate the
growth in tennis and pickle-ball
938 I play at RMTC
939 The lack of indoor courts is definitely the biggest area for improvement. Other than that, more courts
would make a difference; currently courts are often too crowded.
940 I like how there is a mix of drop-in times and scheduled times at different locations. More courts are
needed to satisfy the demand, especially dedicated courts.
941 I currently am a RMTC member so I now rarely use the city cts, but will soon be one of MANY
additional tennis players fighting for ct time. Simple solution: more cts and maintain all cts. Charge if
you have to.
942 with RMTC going away plus other courts there is going to be a large gap in capacity
943 We have courts, that are reasonably close and they are in good condition
944 Knollwood is a beautiful place to play. I just noticed the improvement at Tom Watson.
There are way too few tennis facilities (and pickleball facilities) for a city of our size. Compared to
places like Longmont and Arvada, we are way behind.
There are very few places to play after dark. The lights at N. Boulder, for example, make those
facilities largely unplayable. There is nothing available outside of clubs to play in the cold or when it
rains.
There is growing tension between Tennis and Pickleball players because of limited opportunities.
This is a huge shame.
There is a growing and remarkable wheelchair tennis community in Boulder. There is real concern
that that is destroyed when RMTC goes.
Tennis is a lifelong sport. It serves kids all the way to the old. We should be supporting facilities that
serve everyone like this.
When communities like ours build public sports facilities (tennis, pickleball, softball, baseball, etc.) it
fills hotel rooms and restaurants through tournaments.
I want to be able to ride a bike to play tennis. Hopefully things built will not be only on the outskirts.
945 Future indoor tennis complex
946 Boulder needs to create an indoor tennis facility to provide yearlong tennis. When the City Planning
Board votes to eliminate the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center a comparable facility needs to be built to
replace what is destroyed. The RMTC was much more than 15 tennis courts, it offered dynamic
tennis programs which included leagues tournaments, lessons and an indoor facility for the CU
Women's tennis team. All of these programs offered employment to many tennis professionals.
947 I would like to have more indoor courts that work year-round. There are hardly any facilities today
that offer that.
948 I would like to see more courts. I have been driving all over boulder county to play and would love to
stay in my own town to play.
949 We really need some indoor courts for winter. At least 8 of them at a single location
950 There seem to be a lot of longtime, tennis lovers (our son is a new player) as well as a large bunch of
newer pickleball fanatics (my husband and I included). I certainly hope there’s room for all, as there
seem to be so many people looking to play! I very much like the idea of dedicated Pickleball courts
so it doesn’t have to be one or the other at any given time.
951 Glad they exist. Wish we had more pickleball courts with permanent nets.
952 Courts are well maintained.
953 Would like inside courts.
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954 accessibility
955 We have been very upset about what seems like a full takeover of all the courts for pickleball. the
online system is hard to navigate and most of the courts are taken by pickleball.. Tennis is an
important sport that needs to be supported by the city, especially when the RMTC site disappears. An
indoor or covered facility would be amazing (co-supported by CU?) at the least, courts dedicated and
saved for tennis are necessary.
956 There are not enough courts in general especially for winter time play.
957 Boulder generally has good neighborhood tennis courts, but it would benefit greatly from a dedicated
full-service tennis facility that offers opportunities to participate in leagues, provide group and
individual lessons and host tournaments. Neighborhood courts can't accommodate this type of use,
and the only option in the city is the Meadows tennis club, which is private.
958 I hope we will stop losing tennis courts to pickleball. It's great there is a new sport that people love,
but it is unfortunate that it is coming at the expense of another sport.
959 not much
960 we need more courts since Rocky Mt is going to close
961 I like Gonzo Tennis running great programs on the courts! Very concerned for the incredible demand
and the lack of infrastructure to support it.
962 Hopefully we will get more pickleball courts as more people play pickleball than tennis now a days
963 I live in Boulder only in the summer --May to October. I play exclusively on private courts. I could
not even tell you what courts the City provides. The weather places so many restrictions on tennis in
Boulder that it will never amount to much as a city facility.
964 I have been told existing tennis courts don’t have pickleball lines and nets is because it disqualifies
tennis tournaments from playing. Does the city work for a few elite tennis players versus the majority
of everyday players who are out for exercise and fun? Let the tourneys be at clubs or on perhaps one
designated set of 4 courts.
Perhaps enter in talks with private properties that gave little used courts about increased accessibility?
Be creative and listen to the majority of your tax payers as to needs. Inventory the # of tennis vs
pickleball players. I believe pickleball will be a larger group and growing as folks age.
965 Times for PB open play is great. Would like it on weekends as well, and some evenings for those
with jobs
966 I am very happy P & R is taking a hard look at facilities for tennis and PB. There is no denying that
BOTH sports have and continue to grow and our need for more and improved facilities is critical. I
have a GREAT deal of experience in this space and the best solution is to separate the two sports -
however the city can. Sharing space has created a community divide that is unnecessary. It may have
worked at first but the numbers are too great now.
967 I think for the most part courts are in decent shape and usually available. I would love to see more
indoor or covered options for winter play.
968 I think the department should look at how Scottsdale, AZ
runs the pickleball courts. It works so well
969 We appreciate the courts and the updates that have been made to some courts. We hope that all of the
courts will be resurfaced for safety reasons. Some shade would be nice for safety reasons, like heat
stroke, as I have seen some people experience. Thanks for helping us all stay healthy, young and
old. Tennis and pickleball are activities that people can participate in for life.
970 The current courts are barely adequate and some are downright dangerous. I would like much more
court availability. There are not enough pickleball courts available. The Gunnison Valley where I
visit regularly, has 11 dedicated pickleball courts and a population of only 8-10K. We need to get
with it. It is sport that has been widely adopted by the general population and it’s support be Boulder
is laughable!!!
971 We like that there are some courts. We really wish Boulder could copy the APEX Tennis Model from
81
Arvada. We need an indoor option.
972 It is fairly easy to get a court and now that N. Palo Park has been resurfaced, it is a great place to play.
Our house abuts the court. I am STRONGLY in favor of dedicated courts for tennis and pickle.
Multi-lines are annoying for both sports. Also the noise issue from pickle is real and there should
never be pickle on residential courts.
973 Pickleball courts at NBRC are very convenient for me
974 Please don't let pickleball take all the boulder courts! South Boulder Rec is overwhelmed by
pickleball
975 I hope that we don't lose more courts and funding to pickleball. My concern is that Boulder is
utilizing funding for pickleball and not addressing the growing tennis needs. This will further
perpetuate the decline of tennis in our area due to the lack of courts available for potential future
tennis enthusiasts. I hope Boulder cares about the future of our tennis community and potential tennis
pros that could come from Boulder/Colorado.
976 I like the drop in play at South Boulder Rec center, but as a person who works during the day, the
drop in hours do not work well for me.
977 A Pickleball complex with at least 16 courts.
978 easy access, good peripheral and supporting infrastructure, such as parking, bathrooms and EV stalls,
and locations that minimize impact on the surrounding communities
979 The recent court upgrades are terrific. Porta potties are needed at Palo Park north. They should be
anchored to a tree so kids can't tip them. Back boards to practice tennis should be at every court. E.g.
Palo Park, Martin Part, etc.
980 Not enough dedicated pickle ball courts
981 I just want dedicated courts and some lights. Every other city in Colorado, no matter how few people
or little money has dedicated courts. Let’s make this HAPPEN!!!
982 I am a member of the RMTC that the city is shutting down. I am a very active 81 years old. Without
indoor tennis in the winter, I will have to give up tennis, a sport that has kept me active. At his time
the RMTC is the only available indoor courts. Because the city is shutting down the facility, it has a
responsibility to foster the creation of a tennis center with indoor courts
983 It is difficult to find a place to play. I live a few blocks from centennial middle school but can no
longer play. A city like Boulder should have better facilities for indoor and outdoor tennis with the
migration of fit people moving here.
984 Tennis court availability is pretty good and the maintenance that has recently occurred at Tom
Watson and the re-dedicated courts at NBRC.
My concerns are that court availability will suffer due to losing CU south courts as well as Rocky
Mountain Tennis Center shutting down (although I realize that these are not City of Boulder
facilities).
I'm also highly concerned that pickleball will continue to canalize the availability of tennis courts in
Boulder. The prospect of repurposing city tennis courts for pickleball use is frustrating to me both as
a tennis player and taxpayer.
985 I would hope the City of Boulder could build amenities similar to Apex in Arvada. All of the
competitive children in Boulder have to drive there for the programming and facilities. With RMTC
dissolving and many school courts being removed the City needs to own it’s tennis program in house
and not have a contractor running tennis. There is plenty of room at the South Boulder Rec site to
build an indoor facility.
986 I prefer not to play tennis within earshot of pickle ball. Its way too LOUD and distracting.
987 The popularity of tennis in the area has always made it challenging to find available tennis courts.
The growth of pickleball has put a lot more stress on court availability. Pickleball does not need the
greater infrastructure used for tennis courts. It is not a good use of our limited resources to put them
on tennis courts.
988 That we have them, but we don’t have enough of them!
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989 Would like to have designated pb courts.
990 Rocky Mountain tennis center has been serving tennis for over 40 years -600 kids and wheelchair
players as well as adults play there currently
991 We need a facility like Apex with both indoor and outdoor courts
992 They provide overflow backup for the Meadows Club where I am a member
993 N/A
994 Thank you for everything you do!
I love how spaced out courts are around the county. No matter what, you can find a court if they are
busy, you just have to leapfrog a bit from place to place.
I live in east boulder county. I would love to see a covered or larger complex out here. LOTS of
tennis and pickleball happening and courts are always busy. Thank you!
995 The convenience of courts at NBRC and SBRC but dismayed that NBRC lost half of its courts.
996 More courts are needed to accommodate a growing number of pickleball players. The current
situation in Boulder is not good.
997 I am very concerned about losing tennis courts in Boulder and would like to see more courts built as
soon as possible
998 I like dedicated tennis and pickleball courts without sharing facilities. Sharing them is not
compatible. Please stop this practice.
999 I've had the advantage of playing at RMTennis for 20 years and 5 years of PB. I see both issues
clearly. Tennis: The majority of avid tennis people join a club, are ranked and rely on their system to
reserve courts. The don't play in the winter unless indoors because the game is slower and you get
cold. The level of play needs to be even and the games often last 1.5 hours. There is more
organization required with tennis and fewer people can play on designated courts at one time.
Because many belong to clubs, the City courts are often left unused. I know RMT is being dismantled
and the tennis players are in a real bind having relied on their club to organize. PB - All levels, and
many people, often 50 plus at one time can accommodate 6 -8 courts at a time. Drop in is very
popular and players are used to using the City reservation system, shovel snow, and wait ten minutes
or so between games. We have a bucket/racket system to allow people to take turns. You can play
with different levels, the games are 15 minutes and the courts again can accommodate many people.
It truly is a community sport! That is not the case with Tennis....I love tennis and feel for the tennis
community. They will have a learning curve to move from club to City play and with RMT disbanded
will use more of the tennis courts that sit idle most of the time. PB is easy to learn, drop in is very
popular, its extremely social and there is very little organization needed. It's also played outside year
round. I think from the dots displayed last night, Tennis is looking for indoor etc. much more than PB
players....and again the courts designated for PB from the City are used much more with many more
people engaged. My 2 cents!
1000 Would like to see wind/noise barriers installed for Pickleball courts.
1001 convenient locations. Concern about access to courts as PB becomes more and more popular. It is
very frustrating to have to rotate out and sit around watching others play when the courts are too busy
1002 There are enough courts. However they are in terrible disrepair. And none are indoor. It would not
take a ton of money to cover the Manhattan courts with a roof and to provide parking. It is a waste of
money to keep repairing the courts rather than installing post-tension courts that will last.
1003 Sharing with both tennis & Pickleball is fun
1004 Drop in play at SBRC. Reservation system for later in the day.
1005 I am not too familiar with the City Of boulder courts now. I usually play at Rmtc... but occasionally
on Spruce courts. I find those lovely, except occasionally crowded with too long of a wait. We need
more courts, and that will only get worse after Rmtc and cu South are gone.
1006 I like the versatility of the courts and online booking. Also, I like that some courts have open play for
a few hours, then reservations are accepted for other times. Works well.
83
1007 Typically available
1008 Maintenance is critical on on-going basis
1009 Well kept
1010 I played up in Walla Walla WA last year, they have 14 full time courts. The city of Longmont is
years ahead of Boulder, you should find out how they balanced this problem.
1011 We need more tennis courts!!
Indoor would be lovely.
Outdoor would be great.
1012 Like the drop-in pickleball arrangement. It allows more people to play and has created wonderful
community.
I think the city could generate income by installing a card swipe unit at the courts. You won’t get
everyone to use it but people with silver sneakers etc. will use it. Plus you’d increase your usage stats.
I don’t understand the high demand for dedicated courts - needs more exploring to be sure there are
valid reasons to support them. Seems like it is more of an us/them issue.
A concern is that pb players get dismissed due to the general older age of the group. I don’t think
Boulder is ready to acknowledge our aging population and it’s impact on Boulder’s image of itself.
Thanks for working on a plan.
1013 Absolutely nothing. The courts are a disaster and keep getting worse.
1014 I only play pickleball during weekend drop in at SBRC. It is very crowded. All courts should be
blocked off for pickleball drop-in on weekend mornings from 7-12 to promote the community
building of pickleball and to provide Boulder residents who are still working or going to school an
opportunity to participate. Because of court closures at other rec centers there are often 50 or more
people in rotation for 2-4 courts. Private groups should not be allowed to reserve courts at these
times.
1015 I hope in the future boulder can provide tennis courts that are both 1) usable year round and 2)
affordable for all. Even the current reservation system can be pricey for someone playing as often as
me and I’m afraid the building of indoor courts will be even pricier. I think it’s important to keep that
in mind—that is where this demand is coming from. Anyone with money is already playing year
round at meadows or boulder country club. Thanks and looking forward to the future of boulder
tennis!
1016 I do not like the courts. I played on the courts for decades and found them crowded at times. had to
search for a court, often it seemed courts were not so good for drop in matches. there was no cluster
of courts except at centennial but it was off limits during school time and the BTA had some control
over the availability. not sure any more because I joined the RMTC (the old Harvest House courts (15
of them conveniently located with parking free) and covered in winter.
1017 Being able to reserve courts online.
We just need more courts.
1018 There are at least some courts, but pickleball is very popular!!! 43million Americans play it
1019 Dedicated pickleball courts are lacking. Would love to see a facility like Apex in Boulder.
1020 Usually I can get a reservation with enough advanced planning.
1021 Like the courts at South Boulder Rec. We need lights though! Both North and East already have
them. Doesn’t seem like that would be very expensive to add. SBRC does seem to consistently get
the least investment in improvements compared to the other rec centers. Why is that?
1022 I like the south boulder drop in court situation. I would like some dedicated pickleball courts built in
the city.
1023 The few courts that are available at city parks are very nice. The courts at the end of Spruce Street,
Martin Acres and the courts on Glenwood. But there are too few of them.
84
1024 Very dissatisfied with the quality of the courts. An insufficient number of courts given the total court
demand. No amenities. Primitive compared to other local cities.
1025 I like being able to reserve tennis courts online, don’t like when some courts such as Arapaho’s ridge
are not in the system to reserve. We need more lighted courts and should not have to pay extra to use
those. Longmont is way ahead of boulder as far as courts.
1026 My kids and I take lessons with Rmtc and I would like to continue. We need new courts built so we
can continue to take lessons with this great organization.
1027 I like that there are a lot of them in various areas of the city
1028 Ability to reserve courts online (although the reservation process is antiquated and not user-friendly);
pickleball (a fad) users have taken over already limited tennis court space; city tennis courts (East
Boulder, North Boulder, South Boulder-- and all Boulder high school tennis courts) are in bad
condition and need resurfacing; there are no covered tennis courts in the city in the winter (forcing us
to drive teens after school, in the dark, in bad weather to Longmont and Aurora, when RMTC is sold
out); Meadows Club tennis courts have a 5-year waiting list to join; the city is destroying the only
covered tennis courts in Boulder with the Millenium Harvest House redevelopment-- and adding
pickleball courts instead of replacing the lost tennis courts! You should see how nice the tennis courts
in other adjacent cities.
1029 I like that not all tennis courts have pickle ball lines. We need courts without the lines for usta play.
1030 I am a tennis player and have no desire to support pickle ball at public tennis courts. I am required to
make a reservation one week in advance at NBRC to at least try tennis, sometimes it works out and I
can play! Yet most of the time it is reserved already and if I forget to reserve it is all pickle ball. I
only play at NBRC since it is close to my house and I feel like the courts need to be reserved for
Tennis. If you feel like you need pickle ball courts then maybe add another court. Yet we support
Gonzo Tennis and they have at least 2 of the courts reserved for lessons, which is fine. I went to
SBRC and they had specific just tennis courts which I thought was amazing. Yet, I want to keep the
NBRC courts up and running since they are in a great location and usually available for tennis on the
weekends.
1031 Open to the public
1032 I like Gonzo Tennis, getting together with friends to play, BTA league, essentially the activities that
take place at the courts.
1033 I feel there are plenty of tennis courts but with the growth and popularity of pickleball there needs to
be infrastructure growth as well in creating new dedicated pickleball courts away from communities
where the sou d will be an issue
1034 Martin park and Spruce courts are nicely done. I think lighted courts should be improved. NBRC
lights are too low and not sufficient.
I hope the city can really support the Gonzo tennis program - it brings so many people together to
enjoy tennis
1035 Pricing and reservations are good. NEED MORE PICKLEBALL COURTS. NEED DEDICATED
PICKLEBALL COURTS.
1036 Not much to like right now. Courts are in poor condition or being surrendered to pickle ball. I
appreciate the resurfacing of the IBM courts.
1037 Love lighted courts!
I would love more courts with lights, bathrooms & water!
1038 Play at EBRC love the location.
1039 Convenient, spread around town. Multiple courts in each location.
1040 Access across the city - assuming current courts are all updated
1041 Easy to get to. Perfect location
1042 Like drop in play almost all mornings at SB
Dedicated PB courts would be awesome with at least a group of 4 courts together
85
1043 East Boulder courts have great views and ambiance
1044 Like having a reservation system available for some courts
1045 they are at all 3 parks but we need more designated pickleball at all 3 parks
1046 Like that they are available to all and (mostly) in decent shape
1047 Need more dedicated pickleball courts; also need indoor tennis and pickleball courts given closing of
the Harvest House and long waitlist at area clubs
1048 I would like dedicated indoor tennis courts as well as lighted outdoor tennis courts. Sharing a court
with pickleball leads to competition between extremely scarce resources and resentment between the
two sports. Pickleball lines on tennis courts also detracts from the experience of playing competitive
tennis. The limited tennis resources (mainly in the form number of courts and lack of lighted courts)
causes tennis to be looked at as a non-priority and students and student athletes are unable to thrive
and develop in this environment. Colorado is lagging the nation in tennis talent and it is apparent that
we lack the resources.
1049 right now, it is very hard to get a reservation. There are not enough courts. There are not courts for
winter time. Few courts for night time. People would play the sport year-round all day if Boulder
could accommodate it.
1050 We need more specific designated pickleball courts and improvements made on e siting shared courts
1051 Rehabbed courts now better. Need more indoor courts!
1052 Rec center has lighting. Hope for more courts around town with better conditions. Really need an
option for covered courts in the winter with Rocky Mountain Tennis Center going away.
1053 Before all this noise ordinance stuff, I liked the accessibility of the pickleball courts. Access to
reserve courts online.
I hope that there will be a large number of Pickleball courts available at all 3 rec centers and easy
access to reserve courts
1054 drop-in open play for pickleball
1055 I'm glad that they finally resurfaced Palo and Centennial Middle School (which I realize aren't Parks
and Rec). I would love, love, love to have a tennis facility that has dedicated tennis and pickleball
courts, both indoor and outdoor.
1056 I have enjoyed playing pickleball with friends and at drop-in. Unfortunately drop-in is now so
crowded on weekends (the only days I can participate) that it's almost not worth going. In addition a
few people are reserving courts for private play during drop-in times which further crowds the many
players there for drop-in. As far as the reservation system, it should be possible to cancel court
reservations 24-hour in advance and either get a refund or credit toward future reservation.
1057 Hope to see new tennis courts in Boulder
1058 I like that the cost is low and the courts are in good shape. I like that there are both pickleball and
tennis courts. I like the reservation system though the website could be more user friendly.
1059 We need indoor courts that are affordable to the average citizen
1060 Fresh surface north bldr rec center good, reserving is tough, need permanent Pball courts
1061 They exist
1062 Boulder need to build at least a dozen dedicated outdoor pickleball courts. Ideally, I would like to see
more, as well as dedicated indoor pickleball courts and mixed use tennis/pickleball courts. Please give
the community more options for playing pickleball!
1063 They’re trying to grapple with current and future demand
1064 I love pickleball, but truly the biggest challenge is booking courts. We set an alarm exactly one week
in advance but courts were snagged up instantly.
1065 I like the South Boulder Rec Center courts and how they're not too close to any houses so we're not
86
bothering anyone. Booking courts has become quite competitive, even a week before. It would be
amazing if we could get lights at the SBRC courts. Also if possible, expanding the number of
pickleball courts would be great.
1066 I like the drop in system, and the reservation system is clunky but works. I hope for dedicated
pickleball courts and more of them as there are a lot of people these days.
1067 Future hope is for several more pickleball only courts with wind blocks and lights
1068 Very nice courts, significant hope for many more courts to house the Rocky Mountain tennis
program, need for indoor courts in the winter especially for the competitive kids program high school
program and HP team at RMTC
1069 LOVE the ability to reserve... this is becoming more and more important as pickleball uses our courts,
and tennis courts become less and less available.
1070 I am saddened by the loss of tennis courts in Boulder and Boulder County the last 5 years and the
failing condition of the remaining courts. The work put into the Centennial courts was disappointing,
as they didn't fully repair before painting, so the cracks and bubbles in the court remain, causing
errant balls and dangerous trip hazards. I have not visited some of the other recently fixed courts, so I
have been unable to see if they took the same approach. I appreciate they are making the effort to try
and keep them playable but wonder if knowledgeable people are involved that understand how to
correct the court damage.
I am concerned about snow shoveling the courts, I appreciate the efforts of volunteers at EBRC, but
hope the methods are monitored to reduce wear and tear damage.
It would be great if the city feels it's possible to have permanent water rollers at each site.
Lastly, I know there is conflict about the use of courts for both sports, as there are USTA rules that
then negate their use for tournaments when pickleball lines are on tennis courts. With the loss of the
Rocky Mountain Tennis Center, the importance of adding indoor public facilities is so important to
the huge number of players in the city and county. I am hopeful the city is considering this for future
development.
1071 I like that there is drop in play almost every day.
1072 There needs to be an indoor tennis option for the winter, now that the city is taking the space from
RMTC for student hosting
1073 I know you know this already, but losing the courts at CU South and Millenium will be absolutely
devastating for Boulder tennis, and that is not even accounting for the needs of pickleball players.
PLEASE consider allowing a public/private partnership with a long term lease at Valmont Park or
anywhere else. We understand you have limited funds. The community can come through and help
fund courts but there is no place to put them outside of Valmont Park.
1074 I like that tennis and Pickleball courts are separate. I think it’s a terrible idea to use tennis courts for
pickleball especially if pickleball lines are painted or taped into tennis courts.
1075 Access to wheelchair tennis instruction and play. Concerned about end of the RMTC wheelchair
program.
1076 I enjoy the various locations around town - just wish there were more courts, and more dedicated
courts. Such a wonderful and social game - just wish it was easier to find an open court.
1077 The situation is okay now but was better before we lost half the courts at NBRC. We need designated
pickleball courts in an area that will not bother the residents. There are so many players and not near
enough places to play. Boulder should be embarrassed that their residents have to drive all the way to
Arvada and use the Apex facility.
1078 I’m happy there are as many pball courts as there but there are not enough.
and we definitely need dedicated pickleball courts
1079 courts are of decent quality (when recently patched). most people there are helpful and friendly.
Reserved courts morning hours are generally gone within 1 minute after being able to reserve, More
courts, of course. Ability to legally give some instruction on some courts/times,
1080 I like the open play, M-F and S&S at the south rec. I hope we can make the north rec open play the
87
same as south rec. We need more courts as some days, there are double or triple number of people
than the court. Due to the lack of courts, I have to get up early to set everything up at 8 am to reserve
the courts. The south court surfaces are in dire condition; all the courts have cracks. We should also
open all east courts for pickleball. There are so many newbies; we don't have room for beginners (or
challengers). We recently traveled to Arvada Apex for pickleball party. We shouldn't have to travel
to other city for party...I think that's pathetic.
1081 I mostly play at RMTC
1082 I like the courts that are dedicated to tennis. The East Boulder courts are well designed and appreciate
that they have lights
1083 I love that there are courts in multiple parts of town. I do not enjoy the lessons I have taken. For that,
Rocky Mountain has been better. I also feel a strong need for Boulder to offer covered courts for year
round, weatherproof play.
1084 The more I play the more I see the need for expansion of current outdoor and indoor pickleball courts
and an INDOOR play reservation system added
1085 We need dedicated pickleball courts and more multi use courts. It’s hard to believe that Boulder falls
behind all neighboring towns with PB access thank you
1086 I like that you are addressing needs of citizens
1087 I love playing outdoors and the locations of NBRC, SBRC and Chautauqua are stunning.
I’m concerned that we desperately need more pb courts, we need both dedicated and multi-use courts
and I’m EXTREMELY confused about this: Fairview is using SBRC’S courts tomorrow and Friday
for a tournament. However, they are striped for pb. We’ve been told that the reason all Boulder City
tennis courts cannot be multi-use is that then they cannot be used for tournaments
88
1094 Your willingness to find out what is working and not working
1095 Having at least some tennis courts is better than none, but many are in sad shape, and with dangerous
cracks. Pickleball, and loss of RMTC and CU South courts, are decreasing tennis availability, for
students and residents, all over the city. We especially need indoor courts for winter play, and to
expand usage into the evening.
1096 In the past I liked the easy availability of tennis courts at SBRC. Unfortunately, nowadays, the courts
are mostly taken by pickleball users :(
1097 Boulder is behind almost every other City in CO in its number of dedicated and shared courts. It's
inexcusable and our tax dollars should be allocated to offering more courts for this sport which is
multi-generational and affordable to all income levels, which would be most of Boulder. Get going on
this now!
1098 Open to the public. To meet demand for tennis we need more tennis court maintenance and repairs.
We need more tennis courts!
1099 Some of the courts are in good to great condition to play on. With the loss of the RMTC indoor courts
there is no way to play during the winter (meadows and golf club full of long wait list to become a
member)
1100 We drive 45 minutes to Arvada to the Apex Tennis Center for group tennis lessons for our two sons
(age 13 and 16). This excellent facility has great courts, four indoor courts, bathrooms and water
fountains, court lights, and is very busy and well used. It's amazing and sad that we do not have
anything like this in Boulder, especially given the high taxes that we pay. Currently, to play indoors
people have to join an expensive private club (Meadows, Boulder Country Club, and soon to close
RMTC). We are surrounded by towns that have great public facilities - I'm not sure why it's taking so
long to build a great tennis facility in Boulder. Is it because we have more bureaucracy and red tape
than these other towns?
Also, as summer temperatures increase it becomes more important to have indoor courts. It's difficult
to play outdoors from June to September due to heat, and again from November to February due to
snow and cold. For example, on a sunny 95 degree day the sun adds at least 10 degrees to the real
feel, and the hard court adds another 10 degrees. So, it feels like 115 degrees on the court in the sun.
This is dangerous. This leaves only four months of the year when outdoor courts are reliably useable.
It's very important that any plan includes lots of shade and several indoor courts.
1101 Tennis courts in Boulder are often some of the prettiest in the world because of our gorgeous location.
I hope and dream that the city will add an indoor/outdoor tennis and racquet complex to rival what
communities alike Arvada and South Denver have in Apex and Denver Tennis Park. I hope that the
city can partner with BVSD and CU to add public indoor tennis facilities that can be accessed by
community members and students. Studies will show that these types of facilities can be not only
enormously beneficial but profitable as well.
1102 They are located throughout the city and are usually easy to access. I do feel that there is a very
intense need for public indoor tennis courts in Boulder.
1103 Boulder has nice tennis courts, but as Pickleball has grown, there need to be more courts to support
both sports. We are losing Rocky Mountain Tennis Club which will be a huge loss to our community
of tennis players and put additional strain on the existing city courts. I believe that an indoor tennis
and pickleball facility with dedicated courts for both would be a success in our athletic community.
Looking to communities like Vail and Steamboat - there should be great model to draw from.
89
Appendix B
Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan
Engagement Summary – Window 2
March 2024
1
Boulder Parks and Recreation
Tennis and Pickleball Court System Plan
Engagement Summary – Window 2 - March 2024
Key Takeaways
During the second window of engagement for this project staff requested community feedback
on potential plans to add up to 22 dedicated tennis courts and 22 dedicated pickleball courts by
2036. Key takeaways from community feedback included:
• Tennis and pickleball players are excited for these plans for additional outdoor dedicated
courts especially at East, Valmont, and Tom Watson in the upcoming years.
• Both sports are interested in adding courts as soon as possible. Some shared concern that
the city was not acting fast enough.
• Tennis players requested that tennis courts at east boulder be built first if a conversion of
the existing courts to pickleball was planned and concern about maintenance of existing
courts.
• Both sports, with more comments from tennis, shared an interest in indoor, year-round
facilities.
• Both sports shared comments on specific amenities such as seating, lights, walkways that
staff will reference as the design process continues (schematic design)
• Neighbors and players shared concern and questions about noise impacts from pickleball.
• The Platform tennis community shared interest in additional platform courts.
Communication Tactics
To advertise the first window of engagement, the following methods were used:
• Posters hung at each court site.
• Email to public project email group of 1,300+ subscribers.
• Included in general monthly BPR eblast.
• Social Media – Posted to Facebook and Instagram
• Stakeholder emails: Stakeholders received direct email invitations to the public meeting
and instructions to forward them to their membership bases.
• Shared on the project website.
• Listed as an event in the citywide online calendar.
• Email to HOA and neighbor contacts identified through previous city projects in the area.
Engagement Methods
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB)
Staff presented information on the recommendation of adding up to 44 additional courts at the
January PRAB meeting. At the March meeting, PRAB reviewed the draft concept diagrams for
2
the five potential sites where additional courts could be built. PRAB members were supportive of
these diagrams and would have to opportunity to review each project as part of the annual CIP
process.
Public Meeting
As a part of Engagement Window 2 (March 2024), staff hosted a public meeting. 100 community
members joined this in-person meeting on the evening of March 4.
Staff and consultants presented information on the recommended goal of up to 44 additional courts
and the sites where additions are possible. After the presentation, community members had the
opportunity to view the draft diagrams for the five sites in detail and ask staff questions at different
stations. Community members provided feedback on post-it notes which are included in
Attachment A.
Online Feedback Form
The same information shared at the public meeting was posted online along with a feedback
form for those who wished to provide input virtually. This was open March 4 – March 15.
The full set of feedback received online is included in Attachment B.
Organization Stakeholders
Staff have met regularly with representatives from BOCO Pickleball and Boulder Tennis
Association (BTA) during the past year. These monthly meetings continued during Engagement
Window 2. Stakeholders provided valuable feedback during the site selection process and
concept diagram development which helped staff and consultants present a clear message to the
broader community.
Emails
Staff received several emails and comments from individuals during engagement window 2.
Many Platform tennis players emailed staff to request additional facilities for their sport.
3
Attachment A: Comments from Public Meeting on March 4, 2024
Please add a practice wall
Indoor courts are crucial
What will happen to maintenance yard?
Please build the indoor courts
Mosquito spraying
Why not courts here too (arrows point east + northeast of current courts)
sound proofing between tennis & pickle courts
Keep and improve the existing practice wall
The new development will really add a social vibe to Watson Park
This park is so underutilized. Why not more courts? Here?
Is Boulder County addressing any of this? (property adjacent to Stazio)
Hands off Foothills!
Tennis practice wall?
Windiest spot in Boulder may not be suitable for racquet sports
Leave Foothills alone - too much wildlife there
Phasing: build new tennis first
Additional cart lighting
Love the new P. ball courts @ east rec. - keep on going strong please.
Tennis balls @ dog park
Aim for max here, no less
Preserve tennis before court to pickleball
Not less than 8 tennis courts please
Please do not take away the east tennis courts while new ones are built
Do not eliminate current tennis courts
volleyball is great location for more tennis
love the PB plan @ EB! Would be great for future to consider additional courts to
accommodate a tournament (like at Apex)
Volleyball courts create dust
search for sound attention
double check count of courts at east
can we add lights (temporarily?) to existing tennis courts right away
east court are not level! Table Mesa is good.
Are there private + HOA courts that can be made avail near term?
court cams can help users find available courts
leave existing court in use while other courts are built
4
Boulder has fallen behind the curve by not keeping up with tennis court demand since I
moved here in 1985! Other communities have done better - so please move ahead with the
new proposed construction ASAP! Thanks
Please provide lighted tennis courts where possible. Thank you.
Wind screening is extremely helpful for pickleball
Please add a practice wall
No Junipers or thorny vegetation near courts
light all courts
make them available for league
reservation for working people/youth should not be harder/more expensive than seniors who
reserve for free + sit online at 8am
There is so much history + so many friendships forged on these courts - please keep these
dedicated to tennis !!!
Please make sure courts are level the existing EBRC courts are not level they grade
downhill to the south
The court inventory slide during presentation that is missing: tennis courts that are legal for
match play (league, tournament off site matches) this needs to be addressed.
please make sure that there are lights at the tennis courts. - thx
Please keep tennis where it is + add pickleball courts
Padel + platform needs to be studied
consider sound mitigation between tennis + PB courts (install sound proofing material on
PB court fences?)
keep tennis where it is and add new tennis & pickle-ball to the south
pickleball courts near park bench or lake areas need to have sound barriers around them to
keep park atmosphere for public enjoyment.
the new courts in EBRC are going to have lights?
Please include lights with the pickleball courts
Those projects, could be in a shorter term? With some investors could be faster construction
of the tennis courts.
Please put lights on as many courts as possible - It is an easy way to increase capacity!
Please segregate sand volleyball from courts - It is a health hazard when the wind blows -
we are all breathing in particulates
Make sure to leave us some tennis courts to play on during construction! Thanks!!
Please take another look at your participation state on PB vs Tennis. Hard to believe the
numbers shown on the PPT. PB is much higher!
Please keep the existing tennis courts at EBRC and build 3 new tennis
You are underestimating how fast pickleball is growing! It is growing! If there are 5 mill
growth in one year, there will be another 10 mill next year
At East have water fountains working in the spring too.
5
Do not convert current tennis courts to PB courts without completing tennis courts
East - need rain/shade cover at walkway. like Garfield w/benches/tables
Please give south rec courts back to tennis!!! Lots of us play and live in Table Mesa and
have been unable to play due to pickle!
Can we hurry up the construction we are getting older, with investors interested in this.
East Boulder: Dedicated tennis cts need to have lighting and 4-5 courts of the 8 need to be
designated for league play - that means no Gonzo tennis instruction on these courts for
league.
Space in between/gates seating/ admin tourney check-in area for pickleball
single benches w/covers
6
Attachment B: Comments from Online Feedback Form
Pickleball is a year around outdoor sport. At both NBRC and SBRC we organize “Shovel
Parties” after every storm. We need to ensure that there is ample room to dump the snow
removed from the. At north, the BOCO Pickleball Club has purchased 6 large two-
wheelbarrows and many shovels, squeegees, etc. to support his effort. And P&R has kindly
provided a shed for storage. Each site needs sufficient space to dump snow from the courts and
storage shed.
I did not see any mention of tennis backboards for practice, grooving our strokes, and individual
workouts on any of the concept diagrams. Also, I did not see any mention of adding porta potties
on current facilities. I hope these can be implemented on current facilities as a priority.
Tennis courts need to be divided so that only 2 courts are together with no barrier/fence. The
courts that are near the EBCC lake should not be tennis, because balls will wind up in the lake
and be difficult to remove.
Overall, all 5 locations are great. East Rec fits in that many new courts but is an extremely
popular location. I would rebuild the 5 existing courts in post tension and add 5 new tennis
courts and use the money for the extra 3 proposed courts for a seasonal bubble. This would
enable Gonzo tennis and others to play year round and generate much new revenue during
winter. Tom Watson keeps tennis and pickleball separate. Need more than 500 character limit
please email me for more
Looks good, thank you. Will there be any communications about the amenities plan (lights,
water fountains, bathrooms, seating, shade, etc.)?
Sites that can accommodate at least 8 dedicated tennis courts would help significantly with
accommodating high school and adult league needs. A team needs at least 4 courts at a time to
host matches.
We organize volunteers (usually 20+ at NBRC) to shovel the pickleball courts after each
snowstorm throughout the winter. To provide perimeter to where snow can be shoveled, court
layout should be rectangular -- for example, 2x8 (or two 2x4) rather than 4x4. Also, extra space
should be provided where snow can be piled inside and/or outside the fences on the long sides.
Drainage should be such so that meltwater from piled snow does not drain back onto the playing
surfaces.
Please including bathrooms close by
Boulder needs more access to tennis and pickle ball courts due to the loss of RMTC and CU
South. It would be great to have additional indoor and outdoor courts available. I like that in
most plans tennis and pickle ball courts have enough space between them, so tennis players are
not playing next to noisy pickle ball play. Integrating into existing rec areas maximizes the local
use of our parks.
Most of the courts seem to be going on the outskirts of town. It would be nice if foothills park
were considered in the first phase, and the plant looks good, but I wonder why you would need
100 more parking spaces for just eight courts. Keeping the parking as is would be fine, I think (it
is rarely full, and 8 courts is max 16 other cars).
7
For there to be any improvement in near term tennis access, East needs to be 8 courts. 6 will not
do it.
The addition of separate dedicated tennis and pickleball courts at East Boulder Rec Ctr sounds
great--and it would be especially nice if they were LIGHTED courts, as we have a particularly
limited supply of places for evening play.
I like the idea of a nice facility at Valmont, with dedicated pickleball courts, dedicated tennis
courts, AND indoor facility. It would also be great if the outdoor courts could be LIGHTED.
I do not know if we will have the opportunity to comment when these projects get to
construction planning & bid phase, so I wanted to note that whoever resurfaced the NBRC
courts did not measure properly. They obviously made some initial mistakes they attempted to
correct (you can see where they moved/repainted lines), but the “corrected” lines are still off. I
only checked the northern ends of pickleball cts 2 & 4 but got four DIFFERENT lengths from
kitchen line to back corner.
I did not see any mention of tennis backboards for practice, grooving our strokes, and individual
workouts on any of the concept diagrams. I would hope these can be implemented on current
facilities as a priority.
Lit courts are needed in Boulder! Stazio would be a great place for more lit courts.
Appreciate the plans for adding much-needed courts. Restrooms at Tom Watson and Stazio
should be closer to the courts, if possible, but overall layouts look good.
I do not like the current system of sharing pickleball and tennis courts. While I love the space
being allocated, I think pickle ballers must be forced to use an entire tennis court before being
able to reserve another.
good use of public space and should be less expensive to maintain in parks already receiving
maintenance. Good planning! Also, current parks with only two courts are often full and so
unavailable. We end up driving around looking for an open court. Not good. Having 6 or 8
courts art each location really improves probability of an open court thus avoiding the search.
The higher probability will allow us to bike there.
Do NOT remove the volleyball courts at East Boulder Rec Center to put in POS pickle ball
courts. If you do, you will have an entire section of Boulder fighting against you and voting
against you. Since you are so interested in making these changes without caring about the nearby
neighbors, who will be adversely affected, why not put pickleball courts into YOUR
neighborhoods and right next door to YOUR homes?
Excited for the courts. Will these have good evening lights
All five appear feasible, with East Boulder Community Park logically being the first in line
given the renovations to EBRC. Valmont would at last begin to be developed properly, but work
needs to start ASAP on infrastructure, court design and funding to meet the target date. In that
regard years of failed promises by BPR leadership need to be corrected at last. This means all
facets of the East Boulder site need to be started immediately including budgeting for funding.
8
My suggestion is that tennis and pickleball courts be separated by enough space that we don't
disturb each other. I'd like to see more tennis courts added to East and only pickleball courts at
Valmont. The culture is quite different, tennis players are like golfers and want quiet and are
disturbed by social, noisier picklers. Valmont is away from homes and will not disturb any
residents, while adding pickle courts to East / North would be too noisy for other activities in
that area.
I am an avid USTA league tennis player. I thank you for recognizing the dire need for courts.
We need a minimum of 5 courts in one location to play the 18+ USTA league. I hope that you
will focus on providing multiple locations with 5 or more tennis courts.
It is interesting to me that the city feels like we need so many new tennis courts. I wonder if you
just built more dedicated pickle ball courts so the tennis courts could be used for tennis, which
would be enough?
The designs that have the tennis and pickleball courts separate are the most desirable. I play both
pickleball and tennis and the needs of each sport are significantly compromised by
sharing/splitting courts. This shared court system at NoBo Rec has been a disaster, particularly
with reservations as the pickleballers will spread across courts instead of filling a court before
booking on the next tennis court. East Boulder is the worst design with only 4 new courts and all
shared.
Boulder is in dire need of an indoor tennis facility. The Valmont City Park is a much needed
facility based on public demand.
Any of the above facilities would be fine, would rank Valmont 1st choice and foothills second
choice for location. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS THAT NONE OF THE PLANS , WHICH IS
NONE of the plans having any INDOOR COURTS. WE NEED INDOOR COURTS!
Secondly, Valmont looks great. Indoor is critical. It will be a fantastic and popular civic
resource. Accelerate that along with East. Do not focus on the other sites yet.
More than anything, we need indoor tennis courts that are not private. I would love to see those
prioritized. Thanks!
I like the plans and appreciate the efforts. It would be nice if we could consolidate the tennis
courts instead of having them spread over multiple sites. For example, if we could do 16 tennis
courts at Valmont, that would be preferable for tournaments and community gatherings. Also,
are there ways to establish public/private partnerships or funding so that we can accelerate the
development at Valmont and ensure the indoor facility happens?
My name is JJ. I am 9 years old. I moved to Boulder last year. I love tennis. I want to be a great
player for a BVSD High School one day! The waitlist at Meadows or BCC is crazy long, and
that assumes my family can afford it. We have had snow days the past few days, and I have no
place to play tennis, and this will be the case every winter. So, my feedback: my critical tennis
development is in the next 5 years. If Boulder P&R is not being built indoor now, why not
support TCR to be built now?
9
We need indoor courts - that is why many of us are in favor of relocation of RMTC to
Gunbarrel. They provide indoor courts but also good instruction - something Boulder Rec does
not provide (the instructors are not good, there are not enough times, etc.). Not to mention the
Boulder expansion plan will take way too long to implement. We need indoor courts now, not in
10 years. Our facilities are pathetic compared to our neighbors - go look at what Arvada has; it is
amazing.
Finally, covered courts are a good idea. 6 is NOT enough. Consider: league play all year round.
Perhaps covered is by reservation and modest fee? Why not cover 3 locations: north, mid, and
south?
I attended the informational meeting put on by Parks & Rec about the potential courts. I seem to
remember that there is a possibility of indoor courts as well and would like to advocate for that
as well. I also heard comments from attendees that they would like the courts ASAP. The
sooner, the better!
Lots of tennis courts... great, please consider covered or indoor courts in the plan.
I am thrilled to see additional tennis courts, particularly. I have 2 concerns: not enough indoor
courts, and monopolization by the same individuals (I know that is a concern for administration
not at this stage). I think Boulder could use additional indoor courts. Even RMTC which is
private is packed in the bubble and courts are filled from 6L30AM - 10PM every day!
I am glad to see more pickleball and more tennis courts being added. There is an extreme need.
What about a bubble on a few such as at East Boulder?
Since East Boulder is where my family plays and we are primarily tennis, I vote for more tennis
courts than pickleball. Pickleball has been overtaking too many of the tennis courts lately. I am
also wondering if any of these courts will be covered or indoors? With RMTC's indoor courts
going away, Boulder desperately needs access to more indoor and covered courts. Thanks for
your consideration.
My name is Max. I am 7 years old. I moved to Boulder last year. I love tennis. I want to be a
great player for a BVSD High School one day! The waitlist at Meadows or BCC is crazy long,
and that assumes my family can afford it. We have had snow days the past few days, and I have
no place to play tennis, and seems this will be the case every winter. So, my feedback: my
critical tennis development is in the next 7 years. If Boulder P&R is not being built indoor now,
why not support TCR to be built now?
Love all of these but please build some covered court so people can play year round! Thanks
Valmont park area has no courts, so that will be a good addition for the city. Everyone already
knows to go to East for a “chance” at tennis. Places where access is a walkable distance for the
community will be good. Toilet facility is essential. Provision for bubbles (buy from RMTC fire
sale) will be excellent. Boulder should have 1-2 indoor tennis facilities and could be a good
source of revenue for the city.
10
Please consider working with the University of Colorado and the USTA Venue Services
Department to build 12 INDOOR courts at Valmont Park. 6 is not enough. The facility will be at
90% utilization the day it opens.
I am in full support of increasing the number of tennis courts. The concepts represent a well
thought-out, diverse set of options all of which I support. I particularly like the idea of having
indoor courts.
Any concept that would allow for indoor courts, I am all on board with! Thank you for paying
attention to the lack of courts in Boulder, both for leagues and casual play.
Hi, Thanks for keeping the community up to date. It would be helpful if drawings had more
details, e.g., drawings of new courts vs old etc. I may have missed a spreadsheet with the full
schedule and current vs added courts. I do not' see Valmont Park on any of the schedule details
and except one mention of 2028, Valmont is the critical site because it has indoor courts. Is it
possible to move Valmont plan to the first implementation.
Please also consider indoor courts and build all these ASAP!
The Valmont City Park athletic campus is sick. This really consolidates so much into a
manageable geographic area. Indoor tennis is a MUST- suggest permanent structure (like
Meadows) vs. bubble. Aquatics (50 meter+) is incredible. In town that values healthy lifestyles-
go for it!! It is good to reuse that land. Also, a fan of the other court areas- but the Valmont
campus is amazing.
Are indoor pickle ball courts planned for Valmont City Park?
Valmont: urgently need indoor tennis given loss of bubble cts at HH; can't rely on private
investors to build private indoor club in Boulder City either b/c land too costly to produce fair
ROI or County likely to block support; 2028 too slow - need CU's support ASAP B4 they cut
women's tennis; Watson: love this plan; Stazio: no residential here & parking in place - why
not put bubble indoor here even if temporary?
I like the Valmont park concept as this will allow for year around use and functionality! Indoor,
while more expensive, allows for consistent revenue stream and annual use throughout the year
for those non playable 3-4 months. Thx for making this a priority. Good luck!
Strongly agree with concept of adding dedicated pickleball and tennis courts to all facilities
possible. Also strongly agree with adding INDOOR tennis facilities.
Awesome. Please resurface current courts that need attention. Thank you!
Boulder and its City's leaders need to step up for the game of tennis and commitment to court
space. I am supportive of the proposal to utilize these spaces to continue the sport through local
players and through those who come to play through CU. I now live in Longmont, Colorado
after decades in Boulder, and I am still in Boulder County. Longmont is doing a much better job
supporting tennis. Drive past the tennis courts at Centennial School, Manhattan--they are
embarrassing.
I could not be happier about this plan. THANK YOU - One concern - be sure to go all-in and
make courts that can withstand the test of time. Cracked courts are the worst!
11
Hi Tina and Crew--- Thanks for all the hard work on racquet sports in Boulder! I am
CONCERNED that if you renovate the existing tennis courts at East Rec--- converting them to
pickleball-- WITHOUT FIRST BUILDING NEW TENNIS COURTS,, you will cause an even
more serious deficit in the current tennis court availability issue (as you know, heightened by the
loss of Rky Mt Tennis Center,, ""flooding"" the public system with outed private tennis club
members. PLEASE, build the new tennis courts first
My feedback: #1 - The EBCC tennis courts should not be made into pickleball until AFTER the
new EBCC tennis courts are built! #2 - Be honest about the math here (you are taking away at
least 5 tennis courts at EBCC) #3 - Do not “tease” indoor if you are not ready to build it, and
instead express support for Tennis Center of the Rockies which could be built NOW. 27 courts
will be lost this year! #4 - Keep Gonzo happy, as he is the best thing that ever happened to Parks
& Rec when it comes to tennis.
My feedback: #1 - The EBCC tennis courts should not be made into pickleball until AFTER the
new EBCC tennis courts are built! #2 - Be honest about the math here (you are taking away at
least 5 tennis courts at EBCC) #3 - Do not “tease” indoor if you're not ready to build it, and
instead express support for Tennis Center of the Rockies which could be built NOW. 27 courts
will be lost this year! #4 - Keep Gonzo happy, as he is the best thing that ever happened to Parks
& Rec when it comes to tennis.
Thank you for realizing how important recreation is to the health of our community. Please just
make sure the current courts are usable while new ones are being constructed. I understand it
might be more expensive but without courts for a while we will lose new players that will miss
the opportunity to try and/or practice tennis and pickle ball, and for us older folks if we cannot
play for a year, it might be hard to get back into playing. You know the term use it or lose
it....Thank you again for
The timeline for action on this new plan is a joke. Most folks who play pickleball now will be
dead by the time any benefit is seen.
Looks like you have really expanded the number of courts throughout the city. My major
feedback is that you have NOT expanded the number of pickleball courts in northwest boulder. I
had hoped that you would add pickleball courts in the Foothills area. You only added tennis
courts. One possibility is that you could add mixed use courts at the foothills area. During nice
weather, the PB courts are constantly in use at north boulder rec center. The tennis courts are not
used as much
We need more tennis courts in south / southeast Boulder and ideally away from the pickle ball
courts
Before commenting on the sites. The issue is not about having enough courts or pickleball. for
us tennis player it is about not having proper clinics, leagues and organized social opportunities.
The best locations that are central are Stazio and Valmont park .east Boulder is hard to get in and
out of, too confusing. Tom Watson right now is horrible parking. Between Stazio and Valmont
you could have enough availability to be organized and run some tournaments having
12
I very much like the idea of public indoor courts that Valmont would provide, so that would be
my highest priority.
Incredibly supportive of the outdoor and indoor courts at Valmont Park. Incredibly supportive
foothills park location. Would ask that we expedite courts as quickly as possible (Tom Watson
Park and East Boulder Rec. expansion).
Designs look good. Keeping loud pickleball far from residences is good (may want to keep in
back pocket adding modest sound barriers to appease the Nimbies). But what about S and
Central Boulder? Could be adding to S Bldr (for tennis/pickleball) and Martin Park (for tennis)
The concept diagrams seem plausible. However, they are heavily weighted towards the north
central and northern locations. I wonder about the tennis/pickleball participation in South
boulder and if a few courts could be added where the existing volleyball courts are and slide
those north towards the street. I also wonder what the usage of the volleyball courts are at this
point. Volleyball is on the decline, or it could be just my vantage point now.
It makes sense to me to add courts to areas where they already exist like EBRC and Tom Watson
which is a hub for many activities like biking and running meetups. Valmont city park seems
like another good, central location.
1) There is an emphasis on providing additional courts at East Boulder Rec Center, where there
are already adequate numbers of courts. 2) From the information provided, it is not possible to
determine the number of existing courts versus the proposed number of additional courts. 3) It
would be extremely helpful if location of court in the city (i.e., north, south, etc.) were used in
place of Stasio, etc.
These all look good. But any thoughts about working with the County to find more sites?
While I applaud the city's efforts to vastly increase the tennis and pickleball courts, I am
extremely disappointed with its neglect of more platform courts which has been played in this
City far longer than pickleball. Adding more courts that have the proper heaters is much needed
for the City's growing platform player base. As a taxpayer, I find it extraordinarily disappointing
that a long-existing sport in this City is left out of the Court System plan.
All these concepts look great, particularly the new Valmont park. I am wondering if there are
any considerations to add paddle fields too. Maybe update the two platform courts at the north
rec center to the actual padel format? https://worldpadeltour.com/en https://www.padelusa.org/ .
I can provide more info via email. Please reach out, appreciate your time. Guillermo
In addition to the tennis and pickleball courts in the diagrams above, I would also like to see
more paddle tennis courts in the plan. I am 28 and have been living in Boulder for 6 years, and
many of my friends would like to learn how to play, except the courts are often full. It is a great
game to play at night in the winter, when few other activities are possible.
I think there is room for 2 platform tennis courts in the east Boulder plan. The growing
popularity of this sport has been around for 100 years. As the population of Boulder continues to
increase and so many of our newcomers are players, the addition of 2 courts would alleviate the
profound waitlist that currently exists for the only 2 courts that currently exist.
13
Input from the Boulder Platform Tennis community - our league has been around for 20 years
with over 40 players competing Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings
throughout the season with a large waiting list. We are a passionate and dedicated group of
athletes, and we have helped fund new lights, re-surfacing, and have personally helped maintain
the existing courts at NRBC - the addition of 2 new Paddle courts would maintain the rich
tradition in Boulder of a robust and well-rounded r
This is great work and thank you for the presentation on Monday. I understand that this plan
does not cover the addition of any new platform tennis courts. I would still like to voice my
opinion for considering new platform courts so that these can at least be addressed in the next
Master Plan Update. Thanks!
Please leave the tennis courts at East as-is and build additional courts along with some pickleball
courts. Also, there's concern about the timing for Valmont. Is 2028 realistic given the required
approval process and amount of infrastructure required to achieve courts there? Not to mention
relocating parks and rec operations. Maybe move Tom Watson up in schedule so more courts
can happen more quickly.
yes, more courts at Tom Watson due to easy access but the multipurpose site needs overall
improvement. The portapotties are a disaster. I try not to play there because as a woman I never
know if I am going to be able to use those bathrooms, often just pee in the bushes because the
bathrooms are sooo bad. Also please consider building a real tennis center with some indoor
courts. Tom Watson would be a great location for this. Again, need real bathrooms w/ real
I would like to see pb courts at Watson park.
I pick no 1
I love pickleball courts! Options 1, 2, and 3.
I vote for the first plan: concept diagram one at East Boulder community Park. Location is
central to all residents in Boulder whether they live in North Boulder, East Boulder, South
Boulder, or West Boulder. Thank you for the opportunity to give feedback and looking forward
to seeing how the Court locations get determined.
According to the public meeting held March 4, the first step involves 8 additional tennis courts
at East Boulder Community Park in addition to 16 pickleball. However, diagram 1 as shown
does not provide enough space for the existing and new tennis courts and the new pickleball
courts. Where are all the courts at East Boulder Community Park going to be located?
My personal preference - where I would play the most - is to prioritize the building of the 16
pickleball courts at East Boulder Community Park (Concept Diagram 1).
The plans look good. I would favor pickleball over tennis.
looking forward to many pickleball courts at east boulder Park
All look good to me!
We are so excited about this!
14
This input is centered upon the general need for many more courts in Boulder. General play and
more formal play (i.e., USTA leagues and tournaments) has been limited to years due to
insufficient courts. Looking forward to Boulder adding courts AND taking care of existing.
Thank you!
looks good
I STRONGLY SUPPORT adding 22 dedicated tennis courts
Looks good, seems like appropriate places for add'l courts. Even more public courts at these
locations would be great!
I STRONGLY SUPPORT CREATING MORE TENNIS COURTS IN THE CITY OF
BOULDER. We desperately need MORE TENNIS COURTS!
I am grateful that the City of Boulder is proposing five sites of additional tennis courts. As a
Long-term resident of Boulder, I strongly support adding more tennis courts to the city. It is
important to have dedicated courts for tennis because many of the current ones are taken up by
pickleball players and pickleball groups. Thus, having dedicated tennis courts ensure the
continuity and accessibility of this vital sport in our community.
As a Pickleball player and tennis player, I thank you
Please build it out soon.
I prefer concepts 1,2 and 3
I think a comprehensive map showing the location of existing facilities to be maintained and
facilities to be developed would be extremely helpful to display the full extent/capacity and
location of all courts and to compare existing to proposed and highlight the expansion. The plan
seems fine but all you are showing is the proposed expansion, not the total capacity after the
expansion. I am not sure how I can critique an expansion if I do not have a full understanding of
the existing.
I like concept 1, 2, and 3 because they have pickleball courts. I play a lot of pickleball, and I see
a lot of full pickleball courts and a lot of empty tennis courts. Maybe put some indoor pickleball
courts in there too.
Do we need this many new courts? Do we even have a tennis wall where people can practice?
These courts seem like they are far from homes, how can I listen to the pickleball negative
complaint about the noise the pickleball positive are making with their exercise? My suggestion
would be a center court on the newly reopened section of Pearl St.
Overall, I think the concepts on each diagram are great, I am hesitant to say that so many
pickleball courts should be placed at locations, as it is still not clear if the popularity of
pickleball is temporary or going to be a lasting sport within the state. The prospect of indoor
courts on concept 2 is extremely enticing considering access to indoor courts in Colorado is
extremely limited to country clubs, or southern cities.
Great locations - love that they are spread out around the city
15
General - I like the new courts are balanced between north and south Boulder. The addition of
the Pearl facility gives midtown Boulder a nice option also. Integrating them into existing parks
seems very practical and
Love it!!
Would it make sense to create more tennis courts that can be multipurpose and used as tennis
rather than dedicate straight pickleball courts?
I am requesting pickleball courts for concept 1, 2 and 3. Thank you!
All these locations are great! The increase of the pickleball courts is tremendous! Valmont and
east boulder rec center are perfect for this!
looks great, thank you for adding more pickleball courts
These all look great!!!
It baffles me that pickleball is getting the same attention as tennis. Tennis is a sport that is for
ages three to 80. It supports all youth demographics and provides a source of college funding
through scholarships and USTA programs. Pickleball supports mostly older adults for recreation.
I like what I see, I get excited about the new courts. I am a tennis player, so I am mostly looking
at those courts but pickleball courts are important too
It is a good plan. Pickleball is a fun sport, but it really needs to be isolated from residential areas
due to noise. Also, it needs to have dedicated courts. I believe the plan addresses both issues.
We moved from Boulder but are now dealing with pickleball noise issues in our new town. Just
a heads up to make sure these are a min of 300ft from homes - 500 if it is open space.
Great! Love it and looking forward to playing more.
Incredibly happy to see the city parks and recreation working hard for tennis and pickleball.
Concepts look good, but way out in time. Thats ok if immediate emergent need is factored in.
Thanks!
It is about time that Boulder started addressing the acute need for more tennis and pickleball
courts. Boulder has been way behind the curve in addressing this need. The concept plans look
good. Please move forward as fast as you can.
I would rate the EBCC plan as the best for pickleball and tennis. Valmont would be second.
Hello. I appreciate the work that has gone into this project and would like to say that I am in
favor of moving forward with implementing the project as soon as possible as we are facing an
imminent reduction in the number of available City courts. My only other comment would be
that the City should decide how to deal with the conflicts that are occurring when pickleball
players use tennis courts. This should not be allowed for several reasons that I cannot specify
here. Thank you
16
These five plans/sites look good. We need to have the East Boulder Rec Ctr. tennis courts
completed as quickly as possible since The Millennium Harvest House courts and CU South
courts will be demolished soon.
I have several general comments;
I select concepts 1, 2 and 3 :)
Great job dealing with demand. Appropriate sites.
Thank you for sharing the details of these plans! All good spots and concepts. I am excited to see
it implemented and just wish the timeline could be accelerated because we really need the 2030
version right now!
Concept diagram 1, 2, 3.
It would be of benefit to us to be able to add four Pickle Ball courts to the existing SOBO rec
center courts.
I approve of and endorse Boulder Park & Rec adding more public tennis and pickleball courts.
Thank you!
I really like the plans! On the foothills instead of 8 tennis, it could potentially be 4 pickleball, 4
tennis. Based on my observation, pickleball seems to be the more popular sport around Boulder.
At the South Boulder Rec for instance, those courts are usually fill to the brim.
Thrilled to see this happening in Boulder- much need!
I am confused by the plans for E Boulder Rec tennis courts. The plans call for only a total of 8
tennis courts. There are 5 existing tennis courts. I would hope the plan is to ADD 8 additional
tennis courts, not have a total of 8 tennis courts.
I use the pickleball courts at the NBRC most often because I can walk or bike to them. I would
not use the new courts in this plan very often because I would need to drive to them.
Overall impressions: 1) plan for +22 tennis cts by 2030 = net loss of 5 cts w/ CUSouth & HH
closing 27 cts in 2024 (including a net loss of 5 indoor cts under current plan) - we're going
BACKWARD and moving MUCH TOO SLOW; 2) land cost + County unwilling to support
space for private facility => additional private facilities unlikely so City MUST be part of the
answer (likely w/ CU but time running out if cut Women's team 3) current situation is
unacceptable with 11% of population tennis players
I like the East Boulder Community Park Plan the best. It is a beautiful location with easy access
for biking or driving and central. I am overly excited about having dedicated outdoor pickleball
courts! Thank you.
More pickleball courts should be built in Foothills Park. The four temporary courts in the roller
skating rink are nice, but more are needed. Last Sunday, all courts were used, and a skater
complained that she wanted to use the rink but could not.
17
So, no tennis for several years if we are lucky? That does not work for me. What do I do in the
meantime?
Appendix C
Indoor Tennis Facility Case Study
City of Memphis – University of Memphis
Feasibility Study
2019
Page 1 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
TABLE of CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ 2
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 7
Background .......................................................................................................... 7
Study Objectives................................................................................................... 7
SECTION 2: METHODS AND FINDINGS ...................................................................... 8
Methodology Background .................................................................................... 8
SECTION 3: USER GROUP ACTIVITIES ..................................................................... 9
Lesson Users......................................................................................................... 9
SECTION 4: PARTNERING OPTIONS ........................................................................ 13
SECTION 5: MANAGEMENT TOOLS ........................................................................ 16
Metrics to Benefit Operations ............................................................................ 16
Marketing Strategy ............................................................................................. 21
SECTION 6: OPINION OF PROBABLE EXPENSES .................................................. 23
Facility Staff ....................................................................................................... 23
Utilities ............................................................................................................... 26
Supplies .............................................................................................................. 28
Services .............................................................................................................. 29
Capitals ............................................................................................................... 29
SECTION 7: OPINION OF PROBABLE REVENUE ................................................... 30
Player Card ......................................................................................................... 30
Open Court Use .................................................................................................. 31
Group Lessons .................................................................................................... 32
Permanent Court Time ....................................................................................... 32
Leagues ............................................................................................................... 33
Rental Income..................................................................................................... 33
All Season Programs .......................................................................................... 33
SECTION 8: OPINION OF FACILITY OPERATIONS .............................................. 345
Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 346
Page 2 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Memphis Division of Parks and Neighborhoods located at 2599 Avery Avenue retained the
consultant to determine the potential proforma of the demolition and resulting construction of a new
indoor/outdoor tennis facility. The newly designed facility is to replace the existing Leftwich Tennis Center
comprised of indoor and outdoor tennis located at 4145 Southern Avenue.
Illustration 1
The facility was projected to cost $20 million and be funded by the City of Memphis, the University of
Memphis, and generous contributions from members of the community. Illustration 2 reflects the makeup of
the facility, which includes a 12-court indoor tennis facility and 20 outdoor courts. Four of the outdoor courts
exist and 16 new courts are planned with an expansive elevated viewing area.
Indoor amenities include support facilities such as a reception/control desk, public lounge, public locker
rooms and facility manager offices. Amenities that support the men and women’s University of Memphis
tennis teams include coaches’ offices, player locker rooms, and a conference/film media room .
Page 3 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Illustration 2
The opportunities and challenges were determined through several forms of research. This information is
used to help the City of Memphis Division of Parks and Neighborhoods form an informed decision on how
best to proceed with operations using the proforma projections as presented in this study. This report is written
to provide decision makers with the potential economic influences of the facility once it has been created.
The space program of the facility was reviewed and discussed with the Division’s staff to confirm the
potential of some important spaces that need consideration to support efficient operations. Illustration 2
identifies the facility spaces provided by Fleming Architects’ rendering of the facility.
Without a detailed plan, Illustration 1 may not fairly identify all the programming spaces that the architect
has identified in the facility, thus, this contribution to the study may not be necessary. However, as a former
tennis facility operator, the consultant felt it necessary to identify all the important features in a facility
necessary to enhance success. Facility space sizes are estimates. Spaces the consultant was not able to identify
are highlighted in powder blue. Thus, the interpretation of the spaces in Illustration 2 is subject to change.
Current Operations
Tennis Memphis Inc. (TMI) is the current operator of the existing Leftwich Tennis Center under a term-
limited management agreement with the City of Memphis. This organization is a non-profit youth
development tennis organization. Their mission is “to build a better community and enhance lives through
tennis and education.” TMI operates the City of Memphis’ public tennis facilities, consisting of seven
strategically placed neighborhood tennis centers, four of which are indoor tennis facilities, and 62 tennis
courts.
Formalized data associated with the current use of the Leftwich Tennis Center was not available to the
consultant. Discussions took place with Stephen Lang, Executive Director of Tennis Memphis Inc. to
Page 4 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
determine levels of use of the courts, lessons, permanent court time, and identification card subscriptions.
The results of those discussions are incorporated later in this study to better illustrate the potential use of the
new facility.
Opportunities for collaboration between the City of Memphis and other entities for the expanded Leftwich
Tennis Center are highly desirable. The University of Memphis is committed to becoming an equity partner
in the creation of the facility. Other partnerships would benefit from the economic vitality of the tennis center
as well. Several local high schools have been identified as potential contributors to operations through facility
rentals for their high school teams. Those school partnership options are necessary to help the tennis facility
generate the revenues to help recover operating costs.
Another viable source of funding is possible through sponsorships from the private sector. It is unknown
currently if this is an option to pursue by the city and the university. A greater understanding of the policies
of each entity is necessary to project potential revenues from these sources. Therefore, potential revenue
support from private sector entities such as athletic and energy food and juice suppliers is not a consideration
in this study.
Using a combination of demographic information, analysis of current programs through permanent court
time, player cards, lesson programs, and facility rentals needed to generate revenues to recover costs help
when establishing potential fee structures for various programming opportunities. Economic potential
(determined from facility capacity limits and the resulting desired court time use and attendance revenue from
player card (memberships) structures, and tennis programs offered in the facility help determine possible
cashflow.
Probable expense estimates forecast operating expenses for the tennis center. Concentrating on projected
utility rates for operations and maintenance (as agreed upon with the Director of the Parks and
Neighborhoods), labor costs, as well as commodities such as operating supplies, and capital costs aid in the
understanding of costs of operation.
This facility proforma considers budgeting restrictions. The results of existing operational practices were
offered with limitations. Most of the data shared by the current Executive Director of Memphis Tennis Inc.
was limited and without measurable comparisons from one year to the next. Additionally, the operational
model of the current Leftwich facility generates more revenue for the current operator than the other indoor
tennis facilities that they currently operate. All indoor facilities are aged and nearing operational
obsolescence. A new facility that will also be tied in with the University of Memphis will become a significant
attraction to the Memphis tennis community. This proforma is written to consider each of those influences.
The initial strategy when writing this plan was to be very conservative when factoring revenues and
aggressive when considering expenses. The Director of Parks and Neighborhoods indicated a desire to
consider the option of operating the facility as an enterprise fund. These expectations will have a direct effect
on the ability of the facility to recover operating costs through revenues generated from facility identification
cards (memberships), permanent court times, lessons, and facility rental income.
Page 5 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Assessing fees to users is a necessity to recover the cost of operations. A greater demand for facilities capable
of meeting the competitive and recreational tennis needs of the community has allowed these changed fee
strategies to occur. Community members may have difficulty adjusting to increased fees that are intended to
recover the direct and indirect cost of providing the activity. The increase in the membership fee, for example,
is justified due to the improved ambiance and playability of the new facility. A desired strategy by the
administration is to assess non-residents of Memphis an additional fee to theoretically allow more
opportunities for use by the city resident player and to ensure the resident has an economic advantage for use
of the facility as a taxpayer.
Part Two of this study will provide administration with the tools that need to be implemented to understand
the policies necessary to effectively manage a tennis center. That document will provide the city with example
policies and procedures, job descriptions of various positions, and common operational procedures used in
tennis facilities.
Page 6 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
SECTION 1:
INTRODUCTION
Background
Research for the operational proforma of the Leftwich Tennis Center commenced with an online
understanding of Tennis Memphis Inc. The consultant also reviewed the website of the City of Memphis to
gain a general feel for the departmental operations. Further study of the City of Memphis took place through
an onsite visit with Maria Munoz-Blanco, Director of Parks, and Neighborhoods. After this 3.5- hour meeting
a visit at the Leftwich Tennis Center took place to observe those operations and to collect club information
to aid this study. Finally, the consultant had a phone conversation with Mr. Stephen Lang, the Executive
Director of Tennis Memphis Inc., a nonprofit organization currently operating the indoor and outdoor tennis
facilities on behalf of the city. The consultant used this information to help develop the proforma designed to
aid city officials to make informed decisions toward future operations, and how to best understand the
potential of the facility’s resulting operational costs that might be experienced once the tennis center is
completed.
Study Objectives
The following questions are intended to address key objectives and operations of the Leftwich Tennis Center
once it is opened for play:
• How will the facility be programmed and staffed?
• What are the financial expectations when operating the tennis center?
• What amount of revenue could a facility of this type generate?
• What types of programs can be developed in the facility?
• What operational costs are anticipated to effectively manage the facility?
• From this analysis what operational proforma can be anticipated?
By reaching the desired study objectives, the City of Memphis will understand the anticipated proforma of
the newly expanded tennis center.
Page 7 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
SECTION 2:
METHODS AND FINDINGS
Methodology Background
The consultant used the following methods to determine the anticipated proforma for the newly developed
Leftwich Tennis Center.
1. Gained a further understanding of the project from the City of Memphis online research, Tennis
Memphis Inc. online research, discussions with the organization’s staff, discussions with the current
executive director of Tennis Memphis Inc, a review of potential high school partners by location and
their existing facilities, and a visit to the current Leftwich Tennis Center.
2. Developed a description of potential programs currently being operated and a forecast of future
programs that need to be incorporated in the facility.
3. Reviewed partnering for the purpose of aiding the city in determining relationships that can benefit
use and income potential to support facility operations.
4. Determined the facility staff necessary for the operation based on desired industry standards related
to indoor/outdoor tennis facilities. Information was also generated through conversations with the
Director of Parks and Neighborhoods and the current Executive Director of Tennis Memphis Inc.
5. Developed an opinion of probable revenue based on industry standards for programs, court use, and
memberships.
6. Developed an opinion of probable expenses based on industry standards, personnel costs, and the
local market for energy.
7. Developed an opinion of the performance for operating the indoor/outdoor tennis facility.
Page 8 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
SECTION 3:
USER GROUP ACTIVITIES
When tennis centers are developed, it is important to consider a broad choice in programming opportunity so
the concept of “one stop shopping” for the family seeking tennis diversity can take place. The tennis players
will have a variety of options to choose from to enhance their skills. Every tennis player in the family can
participate in activities such as private and group tennis lessons, leagues, skill improvement clinics, and
permanent court time and open court time. Playing opportunities become maximized when the overall appeal
of the facility becomes evident for different age groups. Creating a flexible facility schedule can increase
programming opportunities substantially and help to achieve economic sustainability.
This section is provided to help familiarize the administrators of the Division of Parks and Neighborhoods
with an understanding of the programs and activities that can take place in the expanded Leftwich Tennis
Center.
Table 1
Tennis Facility
User Group Profile Matrix
Tennis Industry Overview
The Tennis Industry Association (TIA) is a not-for-profit trade association that promotes the growth of tennis
and the economic vitality of the industry.
The latest research from TIA into the sport of tennis in the U.S. shows that overall tennis participation rose
1% to 17.9 million players. The data also shows growth in the number of youth tennis players, and indicated
that more than 14 million Americans, while not current tennis players, expressed an interest in playing the
sport.
“While it is gratifying to see overall tennis participation moving in the right direction, the key to sustained
growth in this sport is to keep creating ‘core’ players, who will be on the court more frequently, taking lessons,
and buying equipment and apparel,” says TIA President Greg Mason. “The good news is a significant
opportunity exists with the 14.6 million Americans who indicate they are interested in playing tennis,” Mason
adds. “Plus, research shows there’s another 12 million who consider themselves tennis players but haven’t
played in the last year.”
Under 5 Five to Nine Ten to 12 13-17 18 and Over
x x x x x
x x x x x
x
x x x
x
x x x x
Group Tennis Lessons
Private Tennis Lessons
Permanent Court Time
User Group
Age Group Influenced
NJTL
USTA Leagues
Drop in Clinics
Page 9 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
A collaborative industry effort over the last several years, led by the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA), has
helped to increase the number of youth tennis players in the country. In 2014, the number of players in the 6-
to 12-year-old age bracket increased 4% to 2.14 million, while 13- to 17-year-old players grew 9% to 2.23
million.
“Growth in youth tennis participation is a key to the future of this sport and industry,” says Kurt Kamperman,
chief executive of Community Tennis for the USTA. “By using lower compression Red, Orange and Green
(ROG) tennis balls, along with shorter courts, shorter racquets and modified scoring, we’re bringing more
kids into the game in a fun, social way, so they experience success and want to continue with the sport.”
(Association, Tennis Industry, June 2019)
Lesson Users
Net Generation is the new youth tennis brand from the USTA designed for learning skills on tennis courts of
varying sizes to accommodate the age or ability levels of the new tennis player to bring more young players
into the sport. The USTA has developed what they feel is an instructional national brand, like youth soccer
has with American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) and youth football has with Pop Warne r. The Net
Generation curriculum has been designed to deliver instruction to youngsters. The program offers
competencies, lesson plans, assessments, and curriculum for tennis professionals to use when training tennis
newbies. The format provides a roadmap for what should be covered for players ages 5 to 18. Coaches and
professionals can customize their existing programs by implementing whatever parts of Net Generation they
feel will serve them best.
Image: USTA Website
Introducing young players to the game of tennis by using facilities that fit their age and levels of maturity is
not new. As indicated earlier, game modifications allow for success more quickly. Baseball has accomplished
this with t-ball and machine pitch. Basketball introduces new players with shortened courts and lower basket
heights. A strong lesson program will not only benefit the children but will also create a community of
lifecycle users. Lifecycle users can grow into other forms of tennis pursuits.
Group Lessons provide a player at any skill level with the opportunity to enjoy tennis with new faces or
friends who have similar tennis skills. These lessons are often called “play groups” and each the pro or
instructor creates week drills to focus on a skill including ground strokes, overheads, volleys, serving, and
game strategies.
Page 10 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Private Lessons allow a player to focus one-on-one with the tennis pro/instructor. Many times, the focus will
be on an area of skill the player has an interest in improving. Private lessons are typically taught in a short
series of one to 1.5-hour teaching sessions. Players who take these lessons are typically attracted to the
pro/instructor they can relate to by age, teaching style, or the ability to produce a return of skill after the time
is spent on the court.
Permanent Court Time (PCT) provides players with a regular and consistent time to play each week during
the fall, spring, or summer seasons. The court is yours -- no phone call needed to see if a court might be
available. It is convenient. Players select the day and time that best suits their interest and allows one to plan
for the entire indoor season. One of the best features of PCT is that players invite their own group of people
to join in on the court time for the season. It is flexible so if your schedule changes the court time can be made
available for sale. If sold, the court fee will be credited back to the group that owns the PCT. Finally, it is
social. Guests may be invited to play with the group.
The older adult market spans some four generations from the Depression Era 1900-1939, Silent Gens 1940-
1945, Mature Boomers 1946-1958, to Young Boomers 1951-1957. These are important demographic groups
who currently benefit through memberships and use of the Leftwich Tennis Center. According to the TMI
Executive Director, the majority of the PCT is booked by residents and non-residents of Memphis who
represent this group.
National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL)
The mission of the USTA Foundation is to bring tennis and education together to change lives. Tennis and
education are leveraged to help those in need, primarily through the NJTL network. Using this powerful
combination, this program helps serve up dreams for under-resourced youth.
Studies have shown that youth who play tennis are healthier and less prone to risky behaviors like binge
drinking and cigarette smoking. They are also less likely to be overweight or at-risk for being overweight.
Image: USTA Foundation Website
Page 11 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
The NJTL network reaches approximately 180,000 youth nationally on an annual basis, providing free or
low-cost tennis and education programming, and nurturing future leaders thus enabling kids in need to
succeed on the court, in the classroom, and in life.
United States Tennis Association (USTA) Leagues is the country’s largest adult competitive tennis league. It
is a great way to stay active, improve your tennis game, and even have the chance to compete for a National
Championship.
League play starts at the local level for players 18 and over. Top teams from local league players earn the
chance to compete in district and/or sectional championships with the winners of sectionals advancing to
USTA League National Championships. Sections may also offer other leagues such as combo (different
National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) levels playing doubles together), tri-level (3 lines of different NTRP
levels), and leagues just for 18 to 39-year-old players.
League offerings vary from section to section but most offer NTRP-level based play by age group. New
players can self-rate to obtain an NTRP rating (please note that a USTA Account is needed to obtain a self-
rating). Once you have an NTRP rating, players are ready to find a league and start playing.
There are many different options based on skill level, age, and interests. Following is a listing of leagues that
are frequently offered in each section. It is reported that there are 17 USTA teams that play through the MCI
program. More detail is necessary to understand the financial and play influences of this large group of
players.
Adult 18 & Over Leagues
• NTRP levels: 2.5 (women only), 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0+
• Team match format for championships is two singles matches and three doubles matches (2.5 and 5.0+
NTRP levels play one singles match and two doubles matches).
Adult 40 & Over Leagues
• NTRP levels: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5+
• Team match format is two singles matches and three doubles matches.
Adult 55 & Over Leagues
• Combined NTRP levels: 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0.
• Team match format is three doubles matches.
Mixed 18 & Over Leagues
• Combined NTRP levels: 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 and 10.0.
• Team match format is three doubles matches.
Mixed 40 & Over Leagues
• Combined NTRP levels: 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0.
• Team match format is three doubles matches.
Skill Clinics are given one session at a time and are typically given in a “drop in” environment. Sometimes a
“call in” by the player is requested to reserve a place in the clinic. Each clinic will focus on drills including
ground strokes, overheads, volleys, serving, and game strategies. Many times, these fast-paced sessions will
work on cardio, court movement, and return of serve with movement afterward to play a second shot while
Page 12 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
approaching the net. Skill clinics often lead to the desire by the player to request private lessons to improve
skills even further.
Summary
The Leftwich Tennis Center operations offers, in one form or another, most of these programs in its current
portfolio of activities. It was difficult to project revenues given the absence of available historical data
associated with the use of the facility. Metrics are used as a barometer to determine performance. Information
will be provided to the City of Memphis Parks and Neighborhoods Division in Section Five of this document
to aid in how metrics can be compiled and used to judge and report performance. That information will benefit
the future managers of the facility as they navigate use through memberships, lesson programming, and the
percentage of facility court use.
Page 13 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
SECTION 4:
PARTNERING OPTIONS
Understanding Partnerships
The establishment of a partnership can be a positive experience and appears to be necessary given the
possibilities and the interest in creating a financially appealing facility that has the proper operational controls
and is managed effectively with the overall community interest in mind. Partnership relationships frequently
occur in one of several forms. More often they have taken place between two or more public sector
organizations. These relationships have historically been successful due to similarities in the operational
philosophy of the organizations and the source of funding.
The public sector and not-for-profit organizations, while less frequent, have also engaged in partnerships.
However, these partnerships have been primarily program partnerships. In some segments of the country the
relationships have expanded to management arrangements where the YMCA would manage a facility owned
by the public sector. Problems arise from the differences in program orientation and operational philosophies.
The City of Memphis is currently engaged in a partnership of this form. The pitfalls an d benefits of this
arrangement are understood from the experience of that relationship.
Private sector and public sector relationships have become more prominent in recent years and common
between a variety of local governments (park and recreation organizations, community colleges, and park
districts) and the wellness community (hospitals). The public sector and the wellness community have been
able to meld the wellness philosophy into a common thread that has worked very well when health, wellness
and fitness rehabilitation is considered as a part of the activity mix.
Partnership relationships usually exist in one or more of the forms outlined in the following examples:
Investment Partnerships: Such as the investment that the City of Memphis is entering with the University of
Memphis. Other facility types where these relationships have been beneficial included outdoor turf fields,
tennis facilities, gymnasiums, and fitness facilities. The relationship is beneficial to each group as the cost for
creating the original structure is shared by each participating entity.
There are several forms of agreement that can be established for the purposes of creating the capital asset.
These are struck to best suit the participants involved in the relationship. For instance, in the case of the City
of Memphis, the equity partnership is beneficial with the University of Memphis because the relationship
allows each party to have agreed upon access to the use of the facility that is created rather than to have the
city or the university acquiesce to the constant needs of the other organization. Another reason is that there is
no need to create their own facility without the support of the other entity . As an equity investor each will
gain agreed upon access, which in turn increases the potential use of the available capacity in the facility.
Operations Management Partnerships: The public sector organization elects to contract out the day-to-day
operations of the facility that is created, typically when the nonprofit partner brings in equity or other capital
Page 14 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
contribution to the development of the facility. In other instances, the public sector organization may elect to
contract and pay a nonprofit operator, as the City of Memphis is currently doing by contracting Tennis
Memphis Inc. to manage the existing City-owned facilities.
It would be beneficial for the city to engage in the outsourcing of food and beverage services during major
events. In this instance, an inquiry is distributed as a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) that is many times
followed with a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the delivery of food and beverages during major tennis
functions such tennis tournaments and special events offered by the city. The key to a successful relationship
is to ensure in the agreement that the private sector or not-for-profit operator pays the public sector on a per
instance basis for the “opportunity” that is presented to them to generate income from a publicly funded
facility. The terms of the distribution of the revenues generated by the vendor need to be clearly identified
with this contractual relationship. Under the circumstances, this opportunity is palatable given the right
contractual agreement with the right operation. Anticipated revenues are not considered in this proforma as
at this time it is unknown how many events will take place using the facility. What can be expected is that
the contractual arrangements that are made must be a net positive factor for the operation.
Program Partnerships: Clearly the one that offers the least impact financially but could have the most
significant impact operationally is the program partnership. Programs are typically contracted by the public
or not-for-profit sector organization to another public sector, not for profit entity, or the private sector.
In recent years, these programs have included specialized training programs and specific skill activities. The
precaution that needs to be considered is that often the value of the ownership is underestimated, and the
contract is written in favor of the contractor. Too often the contractor of the program retains more of the
percentage of the income than the owner of the facility, when the opposite needs to take place due to the
extraordinary costs that exist to keep the facility in good operating order. Another precautionary measure is
to make certain to benchmark the program partner to ensure program quality and growth.
Equity Partner
The University of Memphis
The University of Memphis is a significant equity partner in the development of the Leftwich Tennis Center.
The university will be contributing $5 million dollars toward the creation of the new facility and pay for any
improvements furnishings, fittings, and equipment (FFE) in the spaces that they will occupy (offices, player’s
lounge and media room, and locker rooms).
With those contributions, the university tennis teams will gain significant access to the indoor and outdoor
tennis courts. While negotiations continue regarding the extent of use, it is agreed that the teams will occupy
six of the twelve indoor courts and eight of the twenty outdoor courts Monday through Saturday from 7:00
am to 5:00 pm during the academic year and other designated times that support the team’s developmental
needs. They will also have access to the courts for weekend events such as dual an d triangular meets and
year-end tournaments.
Center Rental
Page 15 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
The university will also pay an additional fee for the above-mentioned access to the facility. The amount of
this rental fee has yet to be determined. The courts will be available for public use when the university tennis
teams are playing in other locations and after their daily use. A placeholder is in the spreadsheets created in
this study for this purpose.
Potential Partnership
Through Club Rentals
High School Varsity Tennis
Several high schools are a short distance from the Leftwich Tennis Center. These organizations often need
indoor tennis facilities to supplement practice opportunities during poor weather conditions. Several schools
do not have visible access to outdoor courts. To ensure they have a guarantee for the use of a facility and
courts, they are typically willing to enter into an agreement to assure their access to the courts. Thus, they
would rent an indoor and/or an outdoor facility one or two mornings or evenings a week before and during
their tennis season held in the spring of the year. Since nearby public and private quality indoor tennis
facilities are scarce, these schools would be interested in a tennis facility, depending on the time of day and
the availability of the courts.
The tennis club, once completed, could expect to attract high school competitive events, as well. There is
strong potential for the tennis facility to be rented by these schools for three functions, practice, home matches
on the indoor and outdoor courts, and tournaments. Table 2 shows an illustration of the potential schools that
could be contacted to determine their interest in the facility for these purposes. Outreach to these organizations
would be important long before the facility is completed.
Table 2
High Schools within 5 Miles
Summary
Joint-use agreements and collaborations with area educational institutions, businesses, and other
organizations and institutions can be significant sources of revenue and offer new opportunities for
establishing relationships and offer added programming. However, there may be significant differences in
programming priorities among any organization that has an interest in the tennis club. Those differences will
need to be understood and negotiated before successful partnerships can move forward.
Location Distance to LTC Existing Courts on Campus Teams Potential Renter
1 514 South Perkins Rd 1.1 miles None Visible x Yes
2 1100 Cherry Rd 1.4 miles 4 Outdoor Courts x Maybe
3 41 N. Perkins Rd 1.9 miles None Visible x Yes
4 4830 Walnut Grove Rd 2.2 miles None Visible x Yes
5 4831 Walnut Grove Rd 2.2 miles None Visible x Yes
6 5217 Park Ave 2.4 miles No Tennis Courts x Yes
7 5900 Walnut Grove Rd 4.5 miles No Tennis Courts x Yes
8 1740Ridgeway Rd 4.7 miles Outdoor Courts x Maybe
9 246 Belvedere Blvd 5.7 miles No Tennis Courts x Maybe
St Mary's Episcopal School
St Agnes Girls Academy
St Dominic Boys School
Potential for Use through Rentals
White Station HS
High Schools with Tennis
Age Group Influenced
Harding Academy
Woodland Presbyterian
Christian Brothers HS
Hutchinson School
Grace-St Luke's Episcopal
Page 16 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
SECTION 5
MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Metrics to Benefit Operations
When managing enterprise funds, the first issue to understand and clarify is determining the core services the
facility provides to the customer. Once the core services are understood it is important to determine the
method that needs to be used to track the performance of those services.
Indoor tennis centers do not deviate from the services they render. They are the same from one facility to the
next whether the facility is managed by any one of the three sectors that provide tennis services: public,
private, or nonprofit organizations. The key however is the knowhow of the organization when tracking use.
Core Service Centers
The core programs and revenue streams offered by the facility include:
Hours of Operation
Any program schedule will require the flexibility to adapt to specific needs of the area and adjust schedules
accordingly. The projected hours of operation are as follows:
Table 3
Indoor Tennis Hours of Operation
Table 4
Monday - Friday Morning Hours Afternoon Hours After School Hours Evening Hours Totl Hrs
Monday 7:30 AM to Noon 54 Noon to 3:00 PM 36 3:00 to 6:00 PM 36 6:00 to 9:00 PM 36 162
Tuesday 7:30 AM to Noon 54 Noon to 3:00 PM 36 3:00 to 6:00 PM 36 6:00 to 9:00 PM 36 162
Wednesday 7:30 AM to Noon 54 Noon to 3:00 PM 36 3:00 to 6:00 PM 36 6:00 to 9:00 PM 36 162
Thursday 7:30 AM to Noon 54 Noon to 3:00 PM 36 3:00 to 6:00 PM 36 6:00 to 9:00 PM 36 162
Friday 7:30 AM to Noon 54 Noon to 3:00 PM 36 3:00 to 6:00 PM 36 6:00 to 9:00 PM 36 162
Total Hours per Weekday 7:30 AM to Noon 270 Noon to 3:00 PM 180 3:00 to 6:00 PM 180 6:00 to 9:00 PM 180 810
Saturday - Sunday Morning Hours Afternoon Hours After School Hours Evening Hours Totl Hrs
Saturday 7:30 AM to Noon 54 Noon to 3:00 PM 36 3:00 to 6:00 PM 36 6:00 to 7:30 PM 18 144
Sunday 7:30 AM to Noon 54 Noon to 3:00 PM 36 3:00 to 6:00 PM 36 6:00 to 7:30 PM 18 144
Court Hours per Weekend 108 72 72 36 288
Total Hours per Week 378 252 252 216 1098
Annual Morning Hours Per Year 19,656 13,104 13,104 11,232
Annual Available Hours 57,096
Hours of Operation
Indoor Tennis / Total Hours per Week
Page 17 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Outdoor Tennis Hours of Operation
*Special programming hours may occur before and after daily hours of operation.
Group Lessons – Indoor and outdoor adult and junior group lessons are offered at the Leftwich Tennis Center.
The group lesson program varies by skill level and then age beginners through advanced players. Participants
range in age from 4 to 75. While associated fees are factored into the proforma, they need to be formally
established for residents and non-resident users.
Private Lessons – Offered to individuals or groups of individuals that are interested in selecting their own
instructor and time. Fees are determined by several variables including the desired instructor, membership
status, length of the lesson, and the number of students in a lesson and the cost of court time.
Player Cards (Memberships) – Packages are available in several categories of potential participants. Benefits
include the opportunity to purchase permanent court time (PCT), 3-day reservation priority, and USTA team
eligibility.
Permanent Court Time – A pre-determined amount of indoor courts is sold to players interested in securing
standing court time. With the new facility and the added number of courts it may not be necessary to conduct
a lottery for court commitments. Groups are required to purchase player cards to be eligible. The season runs
in two segments from September to May and one segment from May to August. Groups must prepay their
court time fees, which are assessed twice during the season. Any non-member playing is responsible for a
guest fee.
Daily Fee Players – Courts are designated for the public to reserve for recreational play. The goal is to keep
at least 1 to 2 courts open throughout the day for members (7-day priority) and non-members (48-hour
priority) to reserve.
Adult Teams – Both men and women compete in travel team tennis leagues in the indoor and outdoor seasons
against other clubs in the region. All players are required to be current Player Card holders of the facility.
Players participate in weekly practices and review situational strategies to improve their game.
Monday - Friday Morning Hours Afternoon Hours After School Hours Evening Hours Totl Hrs
Monday 7:30 AM to Noon 110 Noon to 3:00 PM 60 3:00 to 6:00 PM 60 6:00 to 9:00 PM 60 290
Tuesday 7:30 AM to Noon 110 Noon to 3:00 PM 60 3:00 to 6:00 PM 60 6:00 to 9:00 PM 60 290
Wednesday 7:30 AM to Noon 110 Noon to 3:00 PM 60 3:00 to 6:00 PM 60 6:00 to 9:00 PM 60 290
Thursday 7:30 AM to Noon 110 Noon to 3:00 PM 60 3:00 to 6:00 PM 60 6:00 to 9:00 PM 60 290
Friday 7:30 AM to Noon 110 Noon to 3:00 PM 60 3:00 to 6:00 PM 60 6:00 to 9:00 PM 60 290
Total Hours per Weekday 7:30 AM to Noon 550 Noon to 3:00 PM 300 3:00 to 6:00 PM 300 6:00 to 9:00 PM 300 1450
Saturday - Sunday Morning Hours Afternoon Hours After School Hours Evening Hours Totl Hrs
Saturday 7:30 AM to Noon 110 Noon to 3:00 PM 60 3:00 to 6:00 PM 60 6:00 to 7:30 PM 30 260
Sunday 7:30 AM to Noon 110 Noon to 3:00 PM 60 3:00 to 6:00 PM 60 6:00 to 7:30 PM 30 260
Court Hours per Weekend 220 120 120 60 520
Total Hours per Week 770 420 420 360 1970
Annual Morning Hours Per Year 40,040 21,840 21,840 18,720
Annual Available Hours 102,440
Hours of Operation
Total Hours per Week Outdoor Tennis
Page 18 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
USTA Tournaments – These special events provide a great outlet for juniors and adults looking to hone their
tennis competitive skills. Tournaments are scheduled 1 to 2 times a month and are geared for both beginning
and experienced players. The facility benefits by filling some typically softer weekend evening hours, and
great exposure from those travelling from out of town.
Rentals – There are several users that might run events or programs that will bring additional revenue to the
facility. Groups include high school Boys and Girls Varsity tennis teams, USTA Section and District
Championships (Summer), and in the case of the City of Memphis, the University of Memphis who also
serves as an equity partner of the facility.
It will be important to develop and gain approval of an effective and equitable rental program long before the
facility is ready for use. In the previous section, Table 2 provided an illustration and description of five
potential high schools that are rental candidates before and during their high school competition season. Prior
to discussions with these groups, it will be important to create rental contracts that spell out policies and
procedures for the use of the facility. Terms and costs associated with the use will be important for those
groups to know. The costs for managing the tennis center will be high. It will be important to formulate a
strategy that will allow as many of the interested schools to gain contractual access to the facility for their
teams. The rental income from these organizations will be highly beneficial to generating posi tive cashflow
in the facility. In conversations with the current operator, the best times for use by the high school teams are
illustrated in the following table.
Table 5
Projected Use for High Schools
The times suggested above represent thirty-one-and-a-half time slots available for rental by high schools
during each season (fall and spring). Measurable data will focus on the year-to-year rental agreements. Data
to be captured will include the number of hours each school used against the contract amount that the school
paid for access. This data would be compared with how much revenue was generated per hour against the
amount of revenue generated through normal court time sales. It will also be important to track repeated
contracts from year to year.
Understanding Court Use Percentages: Tracking the use of the tennis courts in the center is critical to best
understand performance. Court time is tracked daily every hour the center is open. Each month will reflect
court time differently as use shifts from one season to the next. For instance, the high schools that rent the
facility may only want to use it during the fall or spring of the year. The court time that they use will become
open court time. Open court time may become a detriment to the overall operation of the tennis center.
Indoor Tennis Courts
Courts 1-2
January to May 6:00 AM 7:00 AM 7:30am 8am 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm
High School Court Rental
Hours of Operation/ Monday - Friday
High Schools
Page 19 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
However, it can be a positive opportunity to introduce tennis to a different set of potential customers.
Therefore, tracking use regularly is critical to the successful function of the facility.
Table 6 is an example of the results of indoor play during the month of April at a tennis facility the consultant
is familiar with. It tells the manager and tennis staff of the play in prime and non-prime time use in the facility.
An important consideration when initiating operations in a facility is understanding then clarifying prime
time and non-prime time hours during a day and week. They will not necessarily be the same from one club
to the next. Once the prime and non-prime times are determined, they need to remain consistent to not confuse
the patron or the employees. The other consideration to understand is that each month will be different when
comparing the overall percentages of use.
The data derived from understanding the percentage of use in a facility will help determine future use to
reduce the gap between use and non-use; provide valuable budget information during a fiscal cycle; provide
information to managers as to when to market the club to new groups; and communicate overall performance
of the club to key stakeholders.
Table 6
Judging Percentage of Facility Court Use
Pro Shop/Services – A serviceable pro shop operation will be available to patrons. It will need to offer
players the latest tennis supplies for purchase. Demo racquets need to be available to people who desire
to try a new racquet. Other retail items include balls, bags, socks, grips, wristbands, hats, and special
orders. The facility will also offer racquet repair services including re-stringing and re-gripping.
While this may seem overkill, it is critical to effectively track retail sales from Pro Shop Services. This
is an area that has the potential of costing the tennis club potential revenues rather than to generate
positive cashflow to support facility operations.
Table 7
Retail Sales Profit and Loss Statement
78%
66%78%
Monthly Averages
Prime Time
66%
Averages
60%
71%
71%
66%
Combined
75%
61%
86%
70%
77%
Non-Prime Time
67%
53%
80%
60%
82%
59%
92%
81%
71%
Prime Time Non Prime Time
60%
84%
70%
Court Time for JanuaryApril 2013
Monday Court Time
73%
74%
Tuesday Court Time
Wednesday Court Time
Thursday Court Time
Friday Court Time
Saturday Court Time
Sunday Court Time
Page 20 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Birthday/School Parties – Parties can be scheduled for both types of groups. The party includes court time,
instructors, and party room. This is a great way to introduce the game and promote the facility.
Ball Machine – The facility will have several ball machines available for rental. This is a great tool for tennis
players looking for some extra practice. The ball machine costs $10/hr. + court time, included under
miscellaneous in the Retail P/L Statement.
Concessions – Opportunities for purchasing packaged food and drink products will be available in the facility.
Vending machines can be found in the snack/lounge area. Players and guests of the facility who are watching
family and friends will mostly utilize machines.
If desired, a profit and loss statement can be utilized for these services as well.
Table 8
Food and Beverage Profit and Loss Statement
2020/21 Proposed 2020/21 Actual 2021/22 Proposed 2022/23 Projected 2022/23 Actual
Amount %Amount %Amount %Amount %Amount %
Operating Revenue
Balls 6,900 38.7
Racquets 3,450 19.4
Racquet Stringing 4,600 25.8
Miscellaneous 2,875 16.1
Sales 17,825 100.0
Cost of Goods Sold 15,500 87.0
Gross Profit 2,325 13.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Expenses
Operating Expenses:
Salaries and Wages 4,680 0.82
Supplies 750 0.13
All Other Expenses 300 0.05
Total Costs 5,730 1.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0
Profit from Operations (3,405)12.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
CITY OF MEMPHIS
INCOME STATEMENT FOR BUDGET YEAR 2020-2021
LEFTWICH TENNIS RETAIL SALES REPORT
Page 21 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Marketing Strategy
Defining a message and establishing the tennis club’s desired identity within the area is the first step in a
successful marketing and promotion strategy. To provide crucial marketing and sales functions (either by
investing in an innovative marketing manager or delegating the marketing responsibilities to the manager or
assistant manager) depends on available funds and the level of awareness regarding the club. The marketing
strategies will need to consider the joint needs of the city and the university.
Marketing efforts need to determine internal and external user needs, define the many services provided by
the facility, identify the potential user groups for those services, and develop a clear message that explains
how the club can fulfill those needs. While a great deal of the marketing efforts will be focused on bringing
customers into the facility, the person responsible for marketing will need to manage the marketing and sales
budget, develop an easy and concise means of explaining activities and fees to members and guests, maintain
relationships with partners and create a simple protocol for scheduling rentals and other events.
Positioning the Facility as Part of the Community
Creativity, initiative, networking, and follow-through will influence the generation of funds when promoting
the new tennis facility. There are several ways to create interest and participation, while at the same time
promoting community involvement and improving opportunities for word-of-mouth exposure. Critical
considerations when planning for experiences include:
• Communicating with the customer and defining needs
• Understanding resources to access enhances the internal and external customer experience.
• Market mix and associated market promotions
• Potential partners / understanding partnerships.
2020/21 Proposed2020/21 Actual 2021/22 Proposed 2022/23 Projected 2022/23 Actual
Amount %Amount %Amount %Amount %Amount %
Revenue
Food Sales 6,000 100.0
Cost of Food Consumed 5,000 83.3
Food Gross Profit 1,000 16.7
Beverage Sales 6,720 100.0
Cost of Beverages Sold 1,344 20.0
Beverage Gross Profit 5,376 80.0
Total Food and Beverage Sales 12,720 100.0
Cost of Food & Beverages Sold 6,344 49.9
Total Food & Beverage Profit 6,376 50.1 0.00 #DIV/0!0.00 #DIV/0!0.00 #DIV/0!0.00 #DIV/0!
Expenses
Operating Expenses:
Salaries and Wages 2,340 46.2
Employee Benefits 420 8.3
Janitorial 1,800 35.6
Supplies 250 4.9
All Other Expenses 250 4.9
Total Departmental Costs 5,060 100.0 0.00 #DIV/0!0.00 #DIV/0!0.00 #DIV/0!0.00 #DIV/0!
Profit from Operations 1,316 50.1 0.00 #DIV/0!0.00 #DIV/0!0.00 #DIV/0!0.00 #DIV/0!
LEFTWICH TENNIS F and B OPERATIONS REPORT
CITY OF MEMPHIS
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR BUDGET YEAR 2020-2021
Page 22 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
• Effective staffing
• Establishing and effectively communicating policies / pricing
• Measuring results
Summary
Marketing and sales functions are vital to the financial success of the Leftwich Tennis Center. The scope of
such campaigns is significant enough to warrant the devotion of considerable time and money to these efforts.
Effectively committed time to these functions will improve the likelihood of use and the resultant financial
success. The key is selecting the right person with the creativity, initiative, and knowledge necessary to
expand the customer base through effective marketing and sales.
Page 23 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
SECTION 6:
OPINION OF PROBABLE EXPENSES
There are three industry-accepted methods when estimating operating expenses for the tennis center. One
would establish the cost per square foot of operation. This sum is then interpolated into the projected size and
scope of the new facility. The second approach is the cost comparison approach. The desire is to compare the
construction costs of other tennis facilities around the country comparable in size and scope and use those
numbers in estimating the operating expense of the new facility. These two approaches result in failure as
they do not consider local prevailing utility rates and wage rates.
To address those factors that are unique to the Memphis location, a third model was used for estimating the
probable expenses for the major areas of labor, contractual services, commodities, and utilities . User
projections are made based on activity programming. Expenses are estimated, considering hours of operation,
participation projections, local weather patterns, local utility rates, and other key items. Operating data from
other facilities are reviewed and taken into consideration to form projections. The following table is a
summary of labor expenses. Assumptions and estimates of all operating expenses are detailed by the expense
category.
Facility Staff
Projected annual payroll expenses are listed by full-time and part-time classifications. The projected cost
reflects the total cost. Benefits are in a separate spreadsheet. Scheduling employees is determined by
programming demand and management procedure. While it is quite possible to operate a facility in a low
cost-control or reduction format, this approach will have a negative impact on the operation, maintenance,
safety, and operational success. Wherever possible, pay rates were determined using existing job
classifications of similar positions in the city.
The most significant contributing factor to a successful program is a courteous, conscientious, outgoing, hard-
working staff. These individuals will determine the success by their actions and presentation . Table 9 is a
spreadsheet of the total personnel costs for the facility. Final staffing may be determined by the
administration.
It is important to note that the model supports the need for a full-time and properly credentialed Head Tennis
Professional. As indicated earlier, tennis lessons generate a significant amount of revenue to support facility
operations. This key staff person will be instrumental in the creation and delivery of a quality and integrated
tennis lesson program. The number of instructor staff will be determined by the skill and ability of staff to
promote tennis lessons to all skills and ages as possible. Therefore, there is no prescribed number of
professionals that need to be employed. Due to the increased number of courts, the more the better.
Additionally, given the long hours of the facility, 7:00 am to 10:00 pm (sometimes 6:00 am), it is necessary
to have administrative staff on hand to provide proper direction and guidance to the part-time staff. The next
report will reflect job descriptions of all the staff that will work in the facility. While the custodian positions
are listed in the table, it is assumed that those workers will be contract employees.
Page 24 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Table 9
Facility Staffing Costs
Table 10
Full Time Staff Benefits
Staff Benefits
Staff benefits are based on the National Compensation Survey for three levels of employees including
management, office, and service staff. Table 11 reflects the results of the survey.
Table 11
Full Time Employees Year One Projections Year Two Projections
Category
Full Time Positions
Facility Manager $66,831.00 $70,172.55
Assistant Manager $48,000.00 $50,400.00
Front Desk Manager $42,000.00 $44,100.00
$156,831.00 $164,672.55
Programming Staff
Head Tennis Professional $60,000.00 $63,000.00
Teaching Commitment $4,500.00 $4,725.00
Tennis Teaching Professionals $86,296.00 $90,610.80
Teaching Commitment $7,087.50 $7,441.88
$157,883.50 $165,777.68
Total Full-Time Personnel $350,714.50 $368,250.23
Full Time Staff Benefits Year One Projections Year Two Projections
Category
Facility Manager $20,717.61 $21,131.96
Assistant Manager $14,880.00 $15,177.60
Front Desk Manager $13,020.00 $13,280.40
Custodian (contractual)
Programming Staff
Head Tennis Professional $18,600.00 $18,972.00
Teaching Commitment $6,166.13 $6,289.45
Total $73,383.74 $74,851.41
Page 25 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Benefits Survey
Cost Percent Cost Percent Cost Percent
Total Compens.59.86 100 26.50 100 19.28 100
Wages 40.94 68.4 18.57 70.10 13.73 71.20
Total Benefits 18.92 31.6 7.93 29.9 5.55 28.8
Paid Leave 5.04 8.40 1.78 6.7 1.01 5.2
Vacation 2.45 4.10 0.89 3.3 0.47 2.4
Holiday 1.45 2.40 0.53 2 0.31 1.6
Sick 0.83 1.40 0.24 0.9 0.16 0.8
Personal 0.31 0.50 0.12 0.5 0.07 0.3
Supplemental Pay 1.63 2.70 0.65 2.50 0.40 2.10
Overtime 0.16 0.30 0.17 0.60 0.19 1.00
Shift Differential 0.10 0.20 0.03 0.10 0.07 0.40
Nonproduction Bonus 1.36 2.30 0.46 1.70 0.14 0.70
Insurance 4.81 8.00 2.52 9.50 1.62 8.40
Life 0.08 0.10 0.03 0.10 0.02 0.01
Health 4.54 7.60 2.41 9.10 1.57 8.10
Short Term Disability 0.11 0.20 0.04 0.20 0.02 0.10
Long-Term Disability 0.09 0.10 0.03 0.10 -5.00 -6.00
Retirement/Savings 3.72 6.20 1.02 3.80 0.84 4.40
Defined Benefits 2.31 3.90 0.53 2.00 0.67 3.50
Defined Contribution 1.41 2.40 0.48 1.80 0.18 0.90
Legally Required Ben.3.73 6.20 1.96 7.40 1.68 8.70
Social Security 2.54 4.20 1.25 4.70 0.91 4.70
Medicare 0.68 1.10 0.3 1.10 0.22 1.20
Federal Unemploy.0.02 -6.00 0.04 0.10 0.04 0.20
State Unemployment 0.14 0.20 0.13 0.50 0.12 0.60
Workers' Comp.0.34 0.60 0.24 0.90 0.38 2.00
Occupational Group
Compentation
Management/Professional Sales and Office Service
Page 26 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Part Time Staffing Costs
Consideration for front desk staff who would work non-daytime and weekend hours to monitor use
of the facility when full-time staff are not on the job. The city currently contracts custodial needs
to a private sector firm. Part-time teaching professionals are paid by the classes that they teach in
each pay period. Outdoor court monitors would serve in a customer service capacity and monitor
the outdoor court use during peak court use times of the year.
Table 12
Utility Costs
Utilities
Heating/Dehumidification
In determining the utility costs for the tennis center, the costs include the energy, energy demand, and delivery
charges. Caution must be used when comparing this cost with operating expenses of other facilities across
the country. The cost to air condition 75% more space will be significant.
Electricity
The calculations below are based upon an estimated figure of 9 cents per kWh. This projection covers both
demand and energy costs. The table below conveys the electricity costs for the facility. When estimating
support space electrical requirements, these spaces were assumed to be occupied and supported 15 hours per
day. Miscellaneous items include chemical feeders, blow dryers, office equipment, etc.
Irrigation, Water, and Sewer
Irrigation, water, and sewer services were not factored into the costing model.
Table 13
Utility Costs
Part Time Staffing Plan Cost Year One Projections Year Two Projections
Part Time Positions
Front Desk Staff $46,800.00 $48,204.00
Custodian (contractual)$34,819.20 $35,863.78
Outdoor Court Monitors $31,239.00 $32,176.17
Programming Staff
Indoor Tennis Teaching Professionals $53,125.00 $54,718.75
Outdoor Teaching Professionals $38,250.00 $39,397.50
Total $204,233.20 $210,360.20
Utilities Year One Projections Year Two Projections
Category
HVAC $281,527.00 $287,157.54
Electricity 77,245.46$ $78,790.37
Total $358,772.46 $365,947.91
Page 27 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Supplies
Considerations for supplies are important in a new facility. This budget will need to be factored in long before
the tennis center is open for use. Many of the supplies are devoted to facility preparation for opening. Supplies
that are important to consider will include funds to support marketing the facility, forms to complete
agreements for memberships, court time, lessons, rental agreements, and communications with prospective
users.
Table 14
Supply Costs
Services
Employees need training in their profession, proper software packages are necessary for front desk operations
and the manager to record facility use, reservations, booking court times, aiding in the calculation of use
percentages, keeping accurate membership contact information, and managing the payment of services by the
customer.
Supplies - Outdoor Year One Projections Year Two Projections
Category
Printing $1,500.00 $1,530.00
Postage $450.00 $459.00
Event Supplies $2,500.00 $2,550.00
Custodial $2,000.00 $2,040.00
Uniforms $1,500.00 $1,530.00
Equipment $1,200.00 $1,224.00
Total $9,150.00 $9,333.00
Supplies - Indoor Year One Projections Year Two Projections
Category
Printing $4,000.00 $4,080.00
Postage $500.00 $510.00
Event Supplies $1,500.00 $1,530.00
Custodial $4,500.00 $4,590.00
Uniforms $3,000.00 $3,060.00
Equipment $4,500.00 $4,590.00
Computer Supplies $7,500.00 $7,650.00
Total $25,500.00 $26,010.00
Page 28 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Table 15
Services
Capitals
Many times, when new construction takes place, FFE is considered a part of the construction costs. That
would account for desks, chairs, and office equipment. It is important to identify other items that will be
critical to the operations of a tennis facility. This list factors in many of those items that need to be a part of
the facility.
Most of these items support one of the key functions of the facility: lessons. Other items support making
certain the surfaces are safe for use through proper cleaning and keeping the courts dry after rain.
Capital Asset Replacement is a common cost that is incorporated into a budget to ensure the funding is
available for future capital asset needs such as new nets, court separation curtains, light fixtures, and court
resurfacing.
Table 16
Capital Costs
Services Year One Projections Year Two Projections
Category
Professional Dues $750.00 $757.50
Conference and Education $1,500.00 $1,515.00
Credit Card Services $19,000.00 $19,190.00
Club Software Management System $225 per month $2,700.00
Sales Tax - Pro Shop $700.00 $707.00
Advertising $15,000.00 $15,150.00
Total $39,650.00 $40,046.50
Capitals Year One Projections Year Two Projections
Category
Spinfire Ball Machines (6 at $2200 ea)$13,200.00
Tennis Court Electric Cleaning Machine $5,200.00
Tennis Court Squeegees 6 at $155 each $950.00
Tennis Court Roll Drys 6 at $77 each $500.00
Balls $6,000.00
Racquets (for introduction youth classes)$8,000.00
Miscellaneous $2,000.00 $15,000.00
Racquet Stringing Equipment $6,100.00
Computer to support management software $2,500.00
Tennis Teaching Equipment ( 25 Hoppers Miscel Supplies)$2,000.00
Capital Asset Replacement 3% of Revenues $27,004.68 $27,004.68
Total $73,454.68 $42,004.68
Page 29 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
SECTION 7
OPINION OF PROBABLE REVENUE
Fee Structure
To project revenue at the new Leftwich Tennis Center, it is necessary to establish a fee schedule. There are
three general approaches to establishing the fee structure:
1. Private Fee Structure: The structure is designed to maximize revenues by charging what the market
will support. Programming events and activities need to be structured to enhance positive cashflow,
which in turn provides the funds necessary to operate other programs that are not self-sufficient.
(NJTL and free programs are examples of costs that need to be recovered.)
2. Merit Fee Structure: Break-even in the delivery of programs. This approach has been used by public
sector organizations for some time as funding is becoming limited in the operation and development
of facilities. User fees are allocated to the operation of the facilities to enhance break-even operations.
3. Public Fee Structure: Subsidy pricing historically has been the policy of many community facilities.
The deficit is addressed through donations or a tax base, depending on the ownership structure and
who is providing the service.
To project revenue, it is necessary to establish fee rates and determine use among the various program areas.
The following table estimates the mix of the number of identification cards (memberships) that will be sold
annually. The anticipated revenues are 20% higher than the reported revenues generated and reported by TMI.
The representative also stated that many of these members are older adults. The increase is also supported by
an increase in the cost of membership.
Table 17
Potential Player Card
(Membership) Mix
Current Player Card income is stated to be $40,000.
Other Facility Income
Year One Projections Year Two Projections
Card Sales Current Recommended
Category Projected Rates Rates
Resident Rate
Adult 45 $120.00 $145.00 $6,525.00 $7,177.50
Senior 125 $70.00 $85.00 $10,625.00 $11,687.50
Junior 25 $45.00 $55.00 $1,375.00 $1,512.50
Family 20 $220.00 $240.00 $4,800.00 $5,280.00
Non-Resident Rate
Adult 20 $150.00 $200.00 $4,000.00 $4,400.00
Senior 50 $82.00 $100.00 $5,000.00 $5,500.00
Junior 10 $60.00 $70.00 $700.00 $770.00
Family 15 $275.00 $300.00 $4,500.00 $4,950.00
Indoor Seasonal Resident Rate
Adult 15 $100.00 $120.00 $1,800.00 $1,980.00
Senior 40 $64.00 $70.00 $2,800.00 $3,080.00
Junior 8 $40.00 $50.00 $400.00 $440.00
Family 6 $220.00 $240.00 $1,440.00 $1,584.00
Indoor Seasonal Non-Resident Rate
Adult 10 $125.00 $150.00 $1,500.00 $1,650.00
Senior 25 $75.00 $85.00 $2,125.00 $2,337.50
Junior 8 $54.00 $75.00 $600.00 $660.00
Family 4 $235.00 $240.00 $960.00 $1,056.00
426 Total $49,150.00 $54,065.00
Player Card Rates
Page 30 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
The consultant and the Executive Director determined potential income at 40% of the potential capacity for
income in the facility. Each of the following categories are calculated at the 40% rate.
Each category is separated from the whole of potential program offerings by season (fall, winter, spring).
Only the indoor season was factored in the calculations. The outdoor facility was not factored in as the costs
of operating the 20 outdoor courts are minimal. Staffing requirements on the outdoor courts will be covered
by the cost of the lessons that are conducted on the courts.
The categories Illustrated in Table 18 are considered in the calculations:
Table 18
Calculations of Income Categories at 40% of Potential
Daily Admissions – Open Court Time
Community members who are not purchasing player cards (memberships) will use the facility from time to
time. The new facility will attract tennis players who have used the Leftwich Tennis Center in the past or are
prompted by curiosity. In these instances, they will use the facility much the same as a golfer will reserve a
tee time on the golf course. The projections reflected in Table 19 are conservative. Careful attention is paid
to preserving open court time for the daily player.
Table 19
Potential Daily Open Court Use
Group/Private Lessons and Clinic Programs
Lesson programs tend to account for 35-40% of all revenues in the facility. Thus, it is critical to employ
significantly strong certified professionals and instructors. These staff will be excellent players, have great
communication skills, with great personalities who give undying support to the facility. Strong efforts need
to be made by staff to commit to a solid overall program to improve and grow tennis. The appendix offers
one program structure that could be considered. The USTA offers significant opportunities for professional
and instructor continuing education. To retain continued interest among tennis players in the programs
Open Court Time
Adult Group Tennis Lessons
Permanent Court Time
Youth Group Tennis Lessons
Women's or Men's Leagues
Free Court Use NJTL
U of Memphis Court Use
High School Use
Total Hours per Week Total Hours per Week Total Hours per Week
for the Fall Total Income for the Spring Total Income for the Summer Total Income Total Annual Total Annual Income % of Use
At 100%Per Category At 100%Per Category At 100%Per Category Slots @ 40%by Category By Category
Open Court Time 193 51,338.00$ 104 27,664.00$ 16 3,276.80$ 158.80 82,278.80$ 16%
Page 31 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
offered, there needs to be new and exciting strategies to help ensure the success of the lesson program and
the club.
For the purposes of this study, the indoor and outdoor group lesson program is broken into 3 sessions fall,
spring, and summer. Group lessons are typically offered for children as young as 4½ and as old as 70+. Group
lessons are typically offered on Saturday mornings, weekday early mornings, evenings, and periodically
during the day.
Clinics are offered regularly at times where players express times when they can participate. They are special
events held for 1.5 hours at a time and focus on specific skills for specified skill levels and age groups. The
success of the clinic is determined by the creativity of the instructor/pro and the focus points of the skill being
taught and drilled in the clinic.
Private lessons can be very lucrative and are dependent on the quality, skill, and sales skills of the
pro/instructor. Private lesson income has not been calculated in this study. The use and income projections
represented in Table 20 are very conservative in the number of participants, cost of the lessons, and the
resulting revenues.
This area is difficult to project. The current practice is the lesson participant pays the instructor/pro and the
pro then gives the club the assigned court rate. The system is unreliable in terms of calculating the number of
lessons taught and the likely revenues generated by the pro and the club. In future operations it is critical to
have all fees funneled through front desk operations and all payroll distributed through the city Parks and
Neighborhoods Division. It is recommended that all people who work in the club become employees of the
city.
Table 20 Group Lesson and Clinic Income
Permanent Court Time
As indicated in Section 5, PCT represents indoor courts that are sold to players interested in securing standing
court time. There are three seasons. One runs from September to May. The second season is from May
through August and the third season is during the summer months. PCT is only available to players who
purchase a player card. Older adults purchased many player cards. Significant sales take place during the
summer session as players enjoy the opportunity to play indoor in an air -conditioned setting. The revenues
represented in Table 21 are conservative numbers. Reliable data was not made available by the current
operator.
Table 20
Permanent Indoor Court Time
Total Hours per Week Total Hours per Week Total Hours per Week
for the Fall Total Income for the Spring Total Income for the Summer Total Income Total Annual Income % of Use
At 100%Per Category At 100%Per Category At 100%Per Category by Category By Category
Adult Group Tennis Lessons 19 7,296.00$ 69 54,144.00$ 36 13,824.00$ 75,264.00$ 5%
Youth Group Tennis Lessons 42 11,884.00$ 72 25,920.00$ 84 30,240.00$ 68,044.00$ 8%
143,308.00$
Total Hours per Week Total Hours per Week Total Hours per Week
for the Fall Total Income for the Spring Total Income for the Summer Total Income Total Annual Income % of Use
At 100%Per Category At 100%Per Category At 100%Per Category by Category By Category
Permanent Court Time 108 52,747.20$ 92 44,932.80$ 128 62,136.32$ 159,816.32$ 14%
Page 32 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Leagues and NJTL
League participation will come from women’s and men’s USTA league play and in-house leagues managed
by the facility staff. NJTL programs are free and have been a desired obligation of the city’s indoor clubs.
Table 21 reflects the potential income from the leagues and free play to the NJTL program.
Table 21
Leagues and NJTL
Schools Rental Income
Table 22 reflects the potential for revenues at 40% of the facility capability. The table takes into consideration
the revenue streams from rental income. Currently the revenues are speculative until an agreement with the
university is finalized. They will also pay a fee for the use of facilities other than the courts. A placeholder in
the spreadsheets is established to account for this income. Rental income from the University has yet to be
determined.
Other projected renters will be local high schools that do not have indoor or outdoor tennis court availability.
These revenues are speculative as well until the desired income generated from high school use is determined.
For now, the estimates represent a placeholder of potential income until concrete data can be determined.
Likely rental income will come from groups such as the USTA, college and high school athletic conferences
that wish to host tournaments and other special events. Since the amount of time devoted to these activities
is unknown, this income is not factored into the proforma. Like food truck vending discussed earlier, this
income will be revenue positive with little or no anticipated cost to the tennis club.
Table 22
Rental Income
Schools and the University of Memphis
Seasonal Income – All Programs
Tables 23, 24, and 25 represent Fall Spring and Summer income potential in all categories.
Table 23
Total Hours per Week Total Hours per Week Total Hours per Week
for the Fall Total Income for the Spring Total Income for the Summer Total Income Total Annual Income % of Use
At 100%Per Category At 100%Per Category At 100%Per Category by Category By Category
Women's or Men's Leagues 168 82,051.20$ 108 52,747.20$ 108 52,427.52$ 187,225.92$ 16%
Free Court Use NJTL 28 -$ 20 0 24 0 -$ 3%
Total Hours per Week Total Hours per Week
for the Fall Total Income Percent of Use Total Income for the Summer Total Income Total Annual Income % of Use
At 100%Per Category Spring Per Category At 100%Per Category by Category By Category
U of Memphis Court Use 252 47,880.00$ 28%47,880.00$ 252 37,632.00$ 133,392.00$ 31%
High School Use 0 -$ 21%31,920.00$ 0 0 31,920.00$ 7%
Page 33 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Fall Income Potential – All Programs at 40%
Table 24
Spring Income Potential – All Programs at 40%
Table 25
Summer Income Potential – All Programs at 40%
Total Hours per Week Total Hours per Week
for the Fall Percent of Use Total Income
At 100%At 40%Fall Per Category
Open Court Time 193 77.2 24%51,338.00$
Adult Private Tennis Lessons 0 0 0%-$
Adult Group Tennis Lessons 19 7.6 2%7,296.00$
Permanent Court Time 108 43.2 13%52,747.20$
Youth Private Tennis lessons 0 0 0%-$
Youth Group Tennis Lessons 42 16.8 5%11,884.00$
Women's or Men's Leagues 168 67.2 21%82,051.20$
Free Court Use NJTL 28 11.2 3%-$
U of Memphis Court Use 252 100.8 31%47,880.00$
High School Use 0 0 0%-$
810 324 100%253,196.40$
Total Hours per Week Total Hours per Week
for the Spring Percent of Use Total Income
At 100%At 40%Spring Per Category
Open Court Time 104 41.6 11%27,664.00$
Adult Private Tennis Lessons 0 0 0%0
Adult Group Tennis Lessons 69 27.6 8%54,144.00$
Permanent Court Time 92 36.8 10%44,932.80$
Youth Private Tennis lessons 0 0 0%0
Youth Group Tennis Lessons 72 28.8 8%25,920.00$
Women's or Men's Leagues 108 43.2 12%52,747.20$
Free Court Use NJTL 20 8 2%0
U of Memphis Court Use 252 100.8 28%47,880.00$
High School Use 190 76 21%31,920.00$
907 362.8 100%285,208.00$
Total Hours per Week
for the Summer Percent of Use Total Income Total Annual
At 100%At 40%Summer Per Category Slots @ 40%
Open Court Time 16 40 14%3,276.80$ 158.80
Adult Private Tennis Lessons 0 0 0%0 0.00
Adult Group Tennis Lessons 36 14.4 5%13,824.00$ 49.60
Permanent Court Time 128 51.2 17%62,136.32$ 131.20
Youth Private Tennis lessons 0 0 0%0 0.00
Youth Group Tennis Lessons 84 33.6 11%30,240.00$ 79.20
Women's or Men's Leagues 108 43.2 15%52,427.52$ 153.60
Free Court Use NJTL 24 9.6 3%0 28.80
U of Memphis Court Use 252 100.8 34%37,632.00$ 302.40
High School Use 0 0 0%0 76.00
648 292.8 100%199,536.64$ 979.60
Page 34 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
SECTION 8:
OPINION OF FACILITY OPERATIONS
Proforma Analysis
The following table represents projections of gross operating performance for the facility based upon revenue
projections and expense estimates from earlier discussions in this report.
Table 26
Opinion of Financial Performance
Profit – Loss Summary
The Opinion of Financial Performance reflects several calculations that influence the eventual performance
of the tennis center. Year 2021 is the first year that an operation would be projected to be available for use.
Revenues are equal to the funds that would be generated from memberships, tennis lesson programming,
court use through drop in play and permanent court time commitments and special event programming.
Expenses include costs for operating the facility such as labor, commodities, utilities, and capital costs.
Operating Cashflow is the difference between the Opinion of Revenues and the Opinion of Expenses.
Recapture Rate is the calculated percentage of that difference. In most cases, more effective operations
attempt to recover as close to 100% of the costs to operate the facility as possible. The projected Recapture
Rate of the facility in the first year of operations is (-22.7%). That number improves by 4% in the second
year. Many factors contribute to that level of performance. For instance, there are unknown data sets that
would aid in providing a more positive light on the economic performance of the facility. Administrative
adjustments to understand how to accumulate then interpret data will aid in the success of the tennis center.
Conclusion
Year One Projection Year Two Projections
Total Income 893,057.72$ $952,625.23
Total Expenses $1,155,145.63 $1,158,115.97
Total Projected
profit (or loss)Year One Projection Year Two Projections
($262,087.91)($205,490.74)
Projected PROFIT - (LOSS) SUMMARY
Leftwich Indoor Tennis Center
Page 35 Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tennessee
There are many wonderful positive influences that will impact the facility operations favorably in the future.
There is the lack of nearby tennis competitors; several high schools within a five mile radius of the facility
require tennis courts to successfully conduct their season; and, most importantly, a terrific relationship with
the University of Memphis will positively affect tennis players who would enjoy the exciting vibe the
university relationship presents and when playing in a facility with superb tennis players from around the
world. It also helps that this facility will be new. Users like being associated with new opportunities.
Once sound operational practices are implemented, this relationship and new facility offers a terrific
opportunity to render a significantly successful tennis operation in Memphis, Tennessee.
The unique relationship between the city and the university will become a centerpiece for an economically
feasible competitive, social, recreational tennis operation for many years into the future. A positive
relationship demonstrated by the two entities will lend itself the opportunity for many years of prosperity in
the facility moving forward.