Costa Mesa staff say tennis center operations continued after operator left; Lions Park cafe vendor and 'poetry in the park' plans announced

Director Gruner updated the Parks & Community Services Commission on several operational items on Feb. 12, including an abrupt vendor exit at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center, an interim operator agreement, the Lions Park cafe vendor award, and the city's first 'poetry in the park' installation.

Tennis center: Gruner said the prior operator (Top Seed) abandoned operations on Jan. 21, 2026. City staff moved quickly: "First thing, Thursday morning, we started, basically, setting up shop inside the pro shop... and started operating the tennis center," he said, noting lessons, clinics and league play continued with "really no downtime or reduction in service levels." The city signed a six‑month interim agreement with Agape Tennis Academy LLC, which placed first in the original RFP, while the city prepares a new competitive process to identify a long‑term operator; the professional services agreement with the current contractor runs through June 30, 2026.

Lions Park cafe and Neat Coffee: Gruner said the council awarded the Lions Park cafe contract to Neat Coffee on Feb. 3. "We're finalizing the agreement," he said, describing a roughly 30‑day move‑in period and an expected opening in late March or early April. The vendor will operate cafe services, participate in events and be a preferred vendor for some city programming.

Poetry in the park: Gruner described a new public-art plan to stamp four poems into Brentwood Park concrete, selected by a committee that included arts commissioners, PACS commissioners and resident input. The final selection included two works by Danielle Hanson (the first Costa Mesa poet laureate), a poem by Leo Zhou and a Spanish-language selection by Federico Garcia Lorca; Gruner said stamping will occur when concrete is poured late in the Brentwood project.

Other updates: Gruner summarized other park groundbreakings, the status of skate-park contract bids and volunteer growth at Fairview Park (about 90 volunteers). He also announced that Ashley Thomas, a long-time staff member, will resign with a last day around Feb. 20.

What this means: City staff preserved continuity at the tennis center while starting a short interim contract and preparing for a new RFP. The Lions Park cafe contract and poetry-in-the-park installation signal expanded program and arts activity in city parks.