By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Pickleball and the courts people play the sport on topped the discussion at the June 3 meeting of the CSA 70 D-1 Advisory Committee, known as the Dam committee.
The proposed plan for the addition of five pickleball courts at Mackay Park. (Photos by Mary-Justine Lanyon)
Henry Mac, of the county’s Special Districts department, said he believes funding is in place for the construction of five new courts. They will be opening bids on June 27 and anticipate awarding a construction contract in August.
As for where the funding is coming from, Lewis Murray said the $550,000 is coming out of Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s discretionary fund. Committee member Jeff Rigney confirmed that, “at this time, the district is not being asked to kick in any money.” Mac and Murray said that was correct.
Pickleball ambassador Kristy Rostawicki asked Mac to give a brief description of the plan. The current three courts, Mac said, will stay as is. They plan to add two courts next to them at a slightly different elevation; there will be a retaining wall and fence for safety reasons.
There will be three additional courts to the west, close to the volleyball courts, which will be removed. The exercise equipment will be moved to a different area; the basketball court will stay.
Mac said it is likely construction of the new courts will start in September with an eye toward finishing before winter.
When Rostawicki asked if the three existing courts would be open during construction, Mac said he would ask but he imagined they would be. “We have to make sure it will be safe,” he said.
“You could say the committee is asking the existing courts to remain open,” Rigney said. “I think the main thing will be dust blowing over.”
Noting that the Lake Arrowhead Community Pickleball Facebook page now has more than 1,000 members, Rostawicki noted many players are not going to the courts now because they are so crowded. She surveyed them for the main issues.
Wind screens topped the wish list, Rostawicki said, as it gets very windy at Mackay Park. They would also like fencing by the parking lot to keep balls from going into it. A big wish is some sort of shade structure with seating.
Those responding to the survey also mentioned maintenance of the courts. “They usually look nice,” Rostawicki said, “but they need to be blown off. The weeds are now knee high; when balls go down the hills, we have to go through the weeds and worry about snakes.”
Rostawicki also said there is some erosion by the court closest to the bleachers. “People fall off if they’re running for a ball. People have sprained their ankles.” Rigney noted that has been brought up over the past couple of years. “There’s not enough room for a player to go after the ball without stepping off the concrete,” he said. “We are looking at plans.”
In talking about shade structures, committee member Cindy Gardner pointed out a permanent one would have to have the appropriate snow load capability. Such a structure had been priced out at Lake Arrowhead Elementary School at $100,000. Community member Chris Dunn suggested having a shed with EZ Ups that could be taken out and put up when needed.
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