Final nod for pickleball at MBL Park: BOMA
Citizen attendee applause broke out after Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously on a contract to construct the new pickleball courts at Mayor Bob Leonard Park for a cost under budget during its meeting in Town Hall Thursday, May 8.
“It’s been almost three years in the making, but this Board just fixed a problem by voting to move pickleball where it should not bother others,” Brass Lantern resident George Ellis said.
“As you all know, the pickleball situation at McFee Park has been well-documented and discussed at both Parks and Athletics Council meetings and Board of Mayor and Aldermen meetings,” Parks and Recreation manager Ron Oestreich said.
During those meetings, the Board and Council discussed closing the north courts at McFee for pickleball, use of the courts by reservation and the multiple design discussions of a new complex at MBLP.
Regarding the new plans, “the Town of Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen requested pricing for a nine-court pickleball complex to be constructed at Mayor Bob Leonard Park, where soccer field No. 6 is currently,” Oestreich said. “The new pickleball complex would consist of nine courts, LED lighting, interior and exterior fencing, two handicap parking spaces and an exterior shaded seating area. The budget for this project is $1,450,000.”
He added the qualifying bids came in on April 10.
Oestreich said the Town received two bids: Baseline Sports Construction, which bid $856,742 with an alternate of $36,000 to resurface the tennis courts at McFee Park, for a total of $892,742, and GeoSurfaces Inc. for $1,098,000 with an alternate of $75,000 to resurface McFee tennis courts.
“With the very favorable bid results, I asked Ross/Fowler, the designer, about the possibility of adding additional courts,” the director added. “He reminded me that any additional land that is disturbed would exceed the 1-acre threshold, requiring stormwater, pollution and prevention plan approval.
“To do that, it would require a new set of updated plans that would likely delay the project start 60 to 90 days. It would also require a rejection of these bids and a new set of plans and a bid process because of the much larger scope.
Additionally, “it would most certainly exceed the $1.45 million with a rebid,” Oestreich said. “We are looking to start this project immediately and be complete by October 2025.
“In this volatile construction environment, we are pleased with these strong bids received for this project,” he added. “Baseline has a strong reputation in pickleball court construction throughout the U.S. References were checked and came back strong as expected.”
With Alderman Drew Burnette’s motion to approve the bid, and Alderman Scott Meyer’s second, the Board unanimously approved Baseline Sports Construction’s lower bid, generating the applause from residents.
“Our thanks go to this Board, (Farragut Municipal) Planning (Commission) and Ron Oestreich,” Ellis said.
He also praised former Vice Mayor Louise Povlin.
“Through many conversations, Louise recognized the problem, then cemented the other aldermen’s views to orchestrate the only viable solution: moving the courts,” Ellis said. “The local aldermen’s support in this is very much appreciated.”
