Agenda - Council - 05/26/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE # CONSIDER RESURFACING RIVERS' BEND TENNIS COURTS By: Mark Riverblood, Parks Supervisor Background: Myers' Bend Park's tennis courts were constructed with the park's development in the 1980's. The court has been resurfaced once since then, and is need of this 'Maintenance practice again. In addition to causal use by residents, a senior's group had been using the courts twice per week, from spring through fall. Observations: In addition to poor visual quality of the surfacing, there is. a concern about safety given the present condition of the playing surface. The issue is that the surface coat is 'spalling' off in large patches. The concern is that during play, a tennis player could make an abrupt stop or turning movement and slip under loose surfacing material. Staff has attempted to remove the loose surfacing with a high power pressure washer to keep the courts in safe, playable condition. However, the process was determined to be ineffective, due to the area being very large, and there is little point - as the surfacing continues to loosen after the pressure washer removes the initial material. The choices aside from moving ahead to reconditioning the courts are to close them to use, or sign them in someway to advise players of the potential hazard (which does not seem prudent). Quotes were requested from 4 contractors to fix the courts and are summarized below: DMJ Asphalt (no bid) GP Tennis Courts (affiliated with New Design below, and therefore did not bid) New Design $20,000 Upper Midwest Athletic Construction $15,800 Each of Ramsey's 5 tennis facilities needs resurfacing for aesthetic reasons and to protect the underlying bituminous base. However, only Titterud and Rivers' Bend have the spalling surfaces, with the latter much more of a concern. Due in part to the 2009 budgetary difficulties, resurfacing River's Bend's tennis courts was not included in the parks' operational budget. Approximately 5 years ago, City Council established a park fund for maintenance purposes, to receive contributions in years where there were year-end excess-revenue funds in the General Fund. This fund (also referred to as the Park Trust Fund, but distinct from the Park Dedication proceeds held in the Park Improvement Trust Fund), has an approximate balance of $101,000. There are two groups of seniors that have found other venues to play tennis pending the repair of Rivers' Bend's courts — however, many are very eager to see 'their' court repaired. Once the court is repaired it is anticipated that the courts will be in full use for each of the five weekdays,