HomeMy WebLinkAboutHandouts Why Tennis, Why Now?? Some Background
Steve Bergquist:
Former Owner: Aces Tennis, a Renton retail tennis shop
Tennis Director, overseeing/running all of the City of Renton Tennis Programs
from 2008-2016. (including popular makeshift winter indoor tennis instruction at
the Highlands Neighborhood Center Gym)
Have served over 1000 Renton residents, and employed dozens of Renton
residents, helping them build their career resumes.
Currently Volunteer Tournament Director for the Renton School District Renton
River Days Tennis Tournament, (fundraiser for RSD High School Tennis programs)
Currently a member of the Washington State House of Representatives: Have
been a leader, over the past few years, in directing state funds towards Renton
Parks priorities, including:
$1.7 million: Sunset Park Phase 1
$3 million: Sunset Park Phase 2
$1.5 million: Doug Baldwin Family First Center
$1.1 million: Cedar River Park Pedestrian Bridge
Long-term goal: Provide a Public Indoor Tennis Facility to our residents that will
become a point of pride for our city, similar to our other park gems, including:
Maplewood Golf Course
Henry Moses Aquatic Center
Renton Community Center
Doug Baldwin Family First Center
Proof of Concept
Sand Point Tennis Center: Seattle
Privately funded public indoor tennis center, ($6 million facility) built at
Magnuson Park in Seattle, with long term lease of 20 years and two 5 year
renewal options (Concessionaire agreement accessible seattle.gov online
information council bill # 116799, ordinance # 123331)
Over the first five years, has been very successful in growing community
engagement in tennis.
At least three businesses at the site, (Tennis Center, Retail Tennis shop, Café)
employing dozens, generating millions in annual revenue.
Annual rental agreement: Started at $1 per square foot for the approx. 80,000 sq.
feet and has risen with CPI each year. (now closer to $100,000 per year to the City
of Seattle)
Local and state taxes: These businesses generate hundreds of thousands in tax
revenue for our state each year, well into 6 figures annually in local tax revenue.
(local portion sales tax, electricity tax, business taxes, among others)
Cities maintenance burden: In talking to Brian Judd, Manager of Magnuson Park
for the City of Seattle, The facility pays for and maintains the entire inside of the
facility and around the perimeter of the structure. The City of Seattle has not
needed to utilize city resources for any maintenance. Actually, he says the center
has even provided more amenities than expected. (Recently worked with the City
of Seattle to add Batting cages available to the public inside Magnuson Park,
among other things)
Result: Successfully expanded resident's options in Seattle Parks system without
spending city resources and generating revenue to maintain additional city
programs and staff.
Renton's Public Indoor Tennis Center
Executive Summary:
Over 80 responses to my informal survey about parks preferences in Renton
The top three parks priorities from 11 menu items:
1. More after school and summer programs for kids
2. Larger projects, such as renovating older community centers and other
projects likely to attract funding from outside sources.
3. Take advantage of public-private partnerships (Ivars, Kidd Valley) where
possible so public does not have to pay directly for some improvements.
Renton's residents would like more amenities in our city, especially if they do not
have to pay for it.
Also from the survey, Renton residents would like our Parks focus to prioritize
first in areas that are higher poverty and/or in an economic improvement zone,
with major improvements being prioritized over neighborhood equity.
In the next parks survey, would be helpful to find out citizen's interest in
expanding parks amenities through public-private partnerships. My guess is that
citizens would appreciate expanding options for our residents in this way,
regardless of whether they personally would benefit directly.
I think residents understand the economic value that expanded parks amenities
brings to our city and to the values of our community.
From what I am hearing, there will be a new indoor tennis facility built in our
region in the next few years. It would be great if Renton could find a way to be
the site and to make sure the facility is available to the public. (rather than a
private club)
I —
Location?
Great opportunity to be a part of the Sunset Community revitalization
The Highlands Park is in need of an upgrade, the proposal for a $20 Million park
upgrade scored highly in the CAC, but did not make it into the final
recommendation.
Given that the $20 million proposal is now likely not in the 20 year outlook for our
Renton parks improvements, we could instead add the Tennis Facility at
Highlands as part of a much needed renovation to the existing Highlands
Neighborhood Center. As part of the Sunset Revitalization zone, I would be able
to lobby for state funding to renovate the existing community center, and private
funding would be used to build the new tennis facility.
Zoning may or may not be an issue: Zoned Neighborhood Park, already contains
a building with a very high roof and is next to Highlands Elementary School, a tall
two story building also with a high roofline.
Currently, programs offered at the Highlands Park draw users from all over the
region.
For example, the Renton Youth Council meets at Highlands, and students from 10
schools have attended, including Newport, Liberty, Hazen, Lindbergh, Renton,
McKnight, Risdon, Dimmit, Nelsen and Maywood.
Tennis tournaments held at this park hosts participants from all over the region.
Gym rentals at the site have organizations and leagues from around the
community using the facility.
The proposed skate park would also have drawn from all over the region.
With the increased development and revitalization zone membership, I would
propose that if necessary, we rezone this into a more regional park to reflect the
rest of the Sunset revitalization zone upgrades that are occurring to this
community that is located just blocks from 1-405 and State Route 900.
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