City parks staff, users push for full renovation of Bluff Park tennis courts

City Parks staff and community tennis users presented a request to renovate all six tennis courts at Bluff Park at the committee meeting on April 27.

Parks staff said the courts are well used and approaching the end of their 25–30 year life span and proposed a complete renovation: new pavement, improved drainage, replacement nets and posts, new fencing and repair or relocation of a practice wall. A Bluff Park Tennis Club member described the courts as the most utilized in the city and urged amenities such as seating, practice walls and preservation of mature trees.

Committee members pressed whether some of the problems shown in application photos were simple maintenance (weeds, unhooked nets) or structural failures requiring full reconstruction. Parks staff explained that historic design features such as expansion joints permitted weeds and that modern resurfacing methods would eliminate that problem; they also described options for bidding fence work (on‑call contractor vs. including fence in general contractor scope).

The presenters said the budget includes design and contingency items; final numbers will be refined during design development and procurement. Committee members suggested adding interpretive signage or a plaque recognizing notable players who used the courts. The committee asked applicants to submit any further design information by May 21 for the June deliberations.