Make it 9 courts, pickleball, as chosen by BOMA
Although Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen reviewed designs for a 12-court pickleball court at Mayor Bob Leonard Park, it chose the conservative route: a nine-court complex design with two handicap parking spots in a 4-1 vote during its regular meeting Thursday, Nov. 14.
The decision, with a motion by Vice Mayor Scott Meyer and seconded by Alderman David White, came on the heels of a workshop, preceding the meeting, when Board members relayed their thoughts on both designs.
After a Oct. 24 workshop, “Ron Oestreich, our Parks (and Rec) director, went back with the design team and looked at a couple of modifications,” Town administrator David Smoak said during the Nov. 14 workshop. “What we’re asking for is to give us direction on which (pickleball) complex you would like to have us work with our designer team to design.”
Previously, the Board had six design options: Option 1, an eight-court complex with a parking lot for $1,305,000, which would be $144,000 under budget; option 2, an eight-court complex with a parking lot and fencing between courts plus shade structure for $1.3 million, $114,188 under the $1.45 million budget; Option 3, a 12-court complex with a parking lot, fencing in between courts and a shade structure for $2,118,000, which would be $668,000 over budget; Option 4, a 12-court complex with two ADA parking spots, fencing and shade for $1.6 million, which would be $220,000 over budget; option 5, nine courts with a parking lot, fencing and shade for $1.7 million, which would be $290,000 over budget; and option 6, a nine-court complex with two ADA parking spots, fencing and shade for $1,476,000, $26,000 over budget.
“I was asked to sharpen the pencils with Ross/Fowler (the architect firm) and narrow down these options to two options,” Oestreich said.
He summarized the first revised option was an eight-court complex with a parking lot, fencing and shade structures for $1.335 million, which would be $114,000 under budget. The second option was the nine-court design, which would be .99 acres of disturbed land, that includes internal fencing and shade structures for $1,216,196, which would be $233,804 under budget.
“I’m very pleased those options are below budget,” Meyer said, observing the only difference in cost is not having the parking.
Oestreich said the Harrison Road parking lot is 50 yards away from the complex site with a walking trail.
While Mayor Ron Williams, Meyer, White and Alderman Drew Burnette voted for the nine-court design, Alderman Alex Cain voted against.
“I still would like to see the 12 (courts) with the two (Americans with Disabilities Act) parking spots because I think that would open up the Town to hosting and promoting tournaments and bringing groups from out of the area, which turns into a revenue maker, fills up some hotel rooms and collects some more hotel tax,” Cain said. “I just feel we’re limiting ourselves by not going to the maximum size available.
“We should build a world-class facility that will become the destination location in East Tennessee for this growing sport,” he added.
Although Burnette voted for the nine courts, he asked, “Does anyone else have an appetite for the 12-court option?
“That’s where I would like to go,” he added. “I like the 12 (courts), too … possibly a scaled-down version of the 12 that brings that cost down by taking away some things and add them later.”
“I know they have them in other places,” Williams said. “I’ve not heard of anybody even asking for them.”
While Parks and Recreation director Ron Oestreich said there have been no formal requests, Burnette said people have been asking.
