PICKLEBALL IN GOODYEAR. $1M?

No doubt pickleball has turned into hot craze in Goodyear. You'll find people on the courts in Estrella night and day.

On Monday night, Goodyear staff asks Council for direction on additional funding to finance access to the growing sport.

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HOW THIS STARTED

In the staff report, Goodyear Parks and Rec states...

Over the past few years, Parks and Recreation Department staff have received several inquiries from the community regarding pickleball play in Goodyear.  Staff responded to these inquiries by exploring both short-term and long-term options to expand pickleball play for the public.

Solutions included:

1. Short-term: Re-striping of the Goodyear Community Park and Loma Linda Park tennis courts to allow for both tennis and pickleball play
   
2. Long-term: Creating a dedicated pickleball court facility
   

During FY18 budget discussions, council requested a cost estimate to create a dedicated pickleball court facility so that it may be considered in the final FY18 CIP budget.  Staff worked with a contracted project manager to develop the cost estimate and project scope.  The project was estimated at $168,000 and included the creation of six (6) lit pickleball courts to be installed in the northeast corner of Goodyear Community Park.  Council approved the project scope and funding of $168,000 as part of the FY18 CIP Budget.

THE ESTRELLA CONNECTION

Staff reports an Estrella resident requested Council consider creating an adult softball field in Estrella which is predicted at costing $318,000. Council approved the lit, adult-sized softball field which would be built on the southeast corner of Foothills Community Park near Estrella Foothills High School.

In July, "staff realized that the original scope and associated budget request were grossly underestimated.

As a result, staff explored an additional option (1) to accommodate adult softball play within Foothills Community Park.  Staff determined that an expansion of an existing youth sized baseball field to an adult sized field could continue to accommodate youth baseball, as well as youth and adult softball.  Adding additional user groups to the field does not impact current users as the scheduled use times do not conflict.  Little League, the primary user of the facility, fully supports this option.  In addition, the Estrella resident who brought this request to council is also in support of either option, as both provide an opportunity for adult use.

Both options require additional funding to provide adult softball play in Estrella.
Option 1:  Modify an existing youth-sized ballfield ($130,500 additional cost)
Option 2:  Install adult-sized ballfield ($979,200 additional cost)

Monday, Parks and Rec will ask Council its opinion on the Foothills ballfield project. If the existing youth field is expanded, it'd cost an additional $130,500.

To install a separate adult-sized softball field as originally scoped, an additional $979,200 is necessary.

Goodyear staff states $1,673,000 is left in the Capital Project Reserve which could be used for these projects.

We'll see what happens Monday night.