New Edmond tennis center plans served
EDMOND — Plans for a new Kickingbird Tennis Center were released during a heated advisory board meeting this week, held to review a contract for management services for the existing tennis center.
The proposal for the new center includes 10 indoor courts, along with 18 outdoor courts, six to be built at a later time, Parks and Recreation Director Craig Dishman said.
The new center is expected to open in late spring of 2019, with some outdoor courts to be open next fall, contingent upon city and Edmond Public Schools funding.
No final price has been set, but the project is expected to cost more than $14 million.
Since 2014, Kickingbird has lost revenue, falling by about $300,000, but city staff expects it to turn around once the new center is built.
In October 2016, the Edmond City Council agreed to buy 23 acres on the northeast corner of Kelly Avenue and 15th Street for $2.5 million.
The proposed twostory center would include locker rooms for each of the three high schools and two for public use. It also would have a pro shop, meeting spaces and an exercise room.
While the current Kickingbird Tennis Center is expected to stay open until the new center is built, negotiations on new management is under discussion with Edmond Tennis Services.
The new deal
During the Kickingbird Tennis Advisory Board meeting, members proposed multiple changes to a proposed management contract for the existing tennis center.
The proposed agreement would allow Edmond Tennis Services to manage the current center, which also would allow them to oversee the city's proposed tennis center.
A new management service contract is needed before the current contract expires on Jan. 1.
“This is your performance standard and, typically, you judge somebody against it,” said board member Jill Raines, who brought an edited version of the contract and expressed multiple concerns.
Raines said the board had decided on expanded hours and for the center to be open over the holiday season, but was surprised to see the agreement changed.
Under the proposed agreement, the center would be closed on Thanksgiving weekend and from Dec. 24 through Jan. 2 each year. But Assistant City Manager Steve Commons said he would look into changing the times.
Only one community member was at the meeting.“It feels like things are rushed and out of order,” said James Boggs, Edmond resident, but he made it clear that it is the right time to negotiate a contract to better serve the city.
The board agenda stated consideration of recommending an agreement between the Edmond Tennis Services and city, but the board did not vote to recommend the agreement.
“It’s that lack of clarity which is what landed the city in this position to begin with,” said board member Srividhya Ragavan.
“I bet on the people I am working with,” Commons said. “We are taking a step up and going to do better.”
David Minihan is expected to serve as the director of tennis under the proposed contract. His wife is now serving as the director of athletics at Oak Tree, which many have raised as a conflict of interest.
The contract requests that the tennis partner pay $10 per year for leasing the facility.
The city is required to maintain its portion of the facilities, all ground maintenance and utility costs of the center, with the Edmond Public Schools paying for a portion during the school year.
Monday, the Edmond Board of Education will vote on its portion of the agreement and whether to approve preliminary plans for the new center.
A final decision on the city’s side of the contract will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Dec. 11 city council meeting in the City Council Chambers, 20 S Littler.