Dow Park pipeline repair underway; pickleball courts and prefabricated restrooms moving forward

City parks staff updated the Deer Park CDC on several Dow Park projects, including a drainage-pipe repair, parking lot reconstruction, installation of pickleball courts and the planned placement of prefabricated restrooms.

Staff reported that work on the drainage pipe beneath the P Street parking area began July 6 and that crews are replacing the lot with concrete; they said the work has closed portions of the trail but is progressing and is expected to be complete by the end of September. “They just started the work on July 6 and they're expected to be completed, by the end of September,” the staff member said.

On recreation improvements, staff said the pickleball courts themselves are complete but electrical service remains to be connected. “Centerport has installed the pole. Basically, we've contracted with RA Weaver to do the electrical to run it to the courts. That actually is starting tomorrow. It should take about 2 weeks,” the staff member said. Staff also described a prefabricated restroom unit already approved by council; staff met with engineering to design the utility pad and expects the restroom to be installed and operational in a couple of months once fabricated and connected.

The board asked operational questions about court hours and locking procedures; staff said the plan is not to leave the courts open 24/7 and that options include a timer or staff locking and unlocking the gates.