Pickleball court resurfacing, lighting will proceed this summer in O’Fallon

Contracts are headed to the O’Fallon City Council for approval Monday, June 20, for the highly anticipated improvements to the pickleball courts at Hesse Park.

An agreement with McConnell & Associates for resurfacing has advanced out of the council’s parks and environment committee Monday, June 13.

This maintenance work is needed to keep the courts in optimal condition. Cracks had developed and, left untreated, could lead to an uneven surface — a potential a trip hazard to players.

Another court will be added when the three other courts are re-oriented to a north-south direction. That is so players won’t have to play with sunlight in their eyes close to sunset.

But further expansion will have to wait for future budget consideration, Parks and Recreation Director Andrew Dallner has stated.

The resurfacing project is expected to cost $33,310, and was originally scheduled for the FY22, so a budget amendment is needed.

The project would also include new fencing and nets. Karen Pfeiffer, a local pickleball player, said they preferred fencing over dividers. Dallner said that would cost an additional $2,000, but they were OK with that upgrade.

The elevation change wasn’t the only work planned. An agreement with Musco Sports Lighting for pickleball court lighting has also advanced for council action.

Currently, the lighting is insufficient for people to play on the courts after dark.

The cost is $42,500. Originally scheduled for the FY22 budget, a budget amendment is needed for this project.

About 61 players use the courts in O’Fallon — a club was established about five years ago and has grown ever since. Surrounding towns also have pickleball courts that players travel to use.

Pickleball, created for all ages and skill levels, is played either indoors or outdoors on a level court, with short-handled paddles and a perforated plastic ball volleyed over a low net by two players or pairs of players.

The local Dinkers club and other players have expressed concern turning the courts and adding a court could cause a shortening of the courts from the recommended 8 feet to 6 1/2 feet. They requested the courts be expanded by 10 feet to provide additional playing surfacing on the ends of the courts.

“We want it to be competition level,” Pfeiffer said.

Pickleball club players have shown up at city council and committee meetings seeking court expansion and more communication about projects, their costs, and changes in plans. Pfeiffer, who plays on the Sweet Gherkins team, said players have been upset at the way plans have changed.

Originally, the improvements were to be in the FY21 budget, then FY22, and this January, they thought things would happen, but it disappeared from the proposed budget.

“They took it off,” she said.

Overall, $70,000 was placed in the FY22 budget to resurface the courts and re-orient the courts that would add an additional court, from three courts to four.

Dallner said staff considered spreading the additional cost over two budget years — FY22 and FY23 — but there was not enough funding.

At the May 9 parks committee meeting, aldermen discussed whether funds could be found to expand the courts, and the staff was instructed to review options and report back to the council.

The resurfacing was then supposed to be scheduled for May, but that did not occur either.

‘It seemed underhanded’

The switch from parks committee to finance committee in May really aggravated people, Pfeiffer said at the parks committee meeting Monday, June 13.

“It seemed underhanded. We don’t watch what the finance committee is doing, we watch what you are doing,” Pfeiffer told the committee Monday. “It didn’t seem necessary.”

The resurfacing was moved to June, but weather and other delays pushed it back until now.

Public Works Director Jeff Taylor reviewed the project and provided four options. While he provided cost estimates, he recommended against lengthening the existing courts, because the cost estimate for expansion increased to $103,000 more than the original resurfacing project.

Taylor told the finance committee expanding asphalt to the current courts would create a joint between the new asphalt and the old asphalt. Over a relatively short period of time, this joint would create an upheaval and a trip hazard in the middle of the playing surface.

More about pickleball courts

The finance committee unanimously recommended Option D as the most suitable and cost-effective plan.

Alderman Nathan Parchman, who is committee chair, said Option D included plans to resurface and re-orient the courts and add lighting. Because there is $70,000 available from the FY22 budget to carry over into the FY23 budget, lighting could be included for $35,000-$40,000 and stay within budget.

Parchman said the idea was to develop plans to build additional courts into the Capital Improvement Plan and future funding through the budget process.

He said resurfacing would mean less chance for cracking, but after five to eight years, there would be natural wear and tear, and that would be addressed later.

4 options presented

The different options in play included:

• Option A: Resurface and re-orient existing court and add lighting, new poles, nets, dividers etc. Cost estimate is $78,000 and is available in the FY23 budget.
• Option B: Expand the existing courts by 10 feet add new perimeter fencing, poles, nets, and dividers. Cost estimate is $181,000 and is not included in the FY23 budget.
• Option C: Expand the courts, add an additional 6 courts, and relocate the basketball courts. Cost estimate is $386,000 and is not included in the FY23 budget.
• Option D: Phase the project. Phase 1 would be the same as Option A — resurface and re-orient the existing court and add lighting this year. Phase 2 — develop a plan with six additional courts for the CIP and future budget consideration. Phase 1 cost estimate is available in the FY23 budget and allows planning for future expansion. Total cost for the two phases would be $366,000.
  
  

Taylor did not recommend Option B because of cost and operational considerations, nor Option C.

Hesse Park in O’Fallon is located at 810 Madison.