Council asks staff to verify TAMIU tennis courts meet collegiate buffer standards after measurement discrepancy

Councilmember raised concerns that recently completed tennis courts at Texas A&M International University may not meet the required buffer dimensions for collegiate or professional play. Parks and engineering staff told council the playing-surface dimensions (the in-bounds court measurements) were built to contract specifications, but the perimeter buffer between the court lines and the adjacent fences on the sides and back appears to be "less than a foot short" in certain locations.

Staff said they are in contact with the design and construction team and will confirm whether the measured buffer distances meet current collegiate standards and the contract documents. Staff also indicated that USDA (project design partner referenced in staff remarks) and the architect will be asked to help determine whether corrective measures are required and who will be responsible for remediation.

Council approved a direction for staff to assemble the design and contractor documentation, meet with the architect and contractor, assess remedies, identify the responsible party and report back with a timeline and cost estimate.

Why it matters: Collegiate and professional tennis standards require specified clearances beyond the baseline and sidelines so players can safely pursue balls. If buffers are too small, courts may be unsuitable for sanctioned collegiate competition and could create safety concerns.

Next steps: Staff will verify the as-built dimensions versus contract and collegiate standards, determine correction options and return to council with a recommended remedy and schedule.