Council Approves Greenbelt Tennis Courts Funding as Budget Nears Adoption

Following 10 work sessions and now two public hearings, the Greenbelt city council looks poised to adopt its fiscal 2012 budget on June 6.

The budget, which contains about $25.4 million in expenditures, drew little input from residents during last night’s second and final public hearing.

Molly Lester, was the only resident who turned up to talk about the budget. Among other things, Lester questioned some $333,000 budgeted for the relighting and resurfacing of the Braden Field tennis courts located in Old Greenbelt. 

“Is it predominately used by Greenbelt residents?” she asked at one point, calling for a usage-evaluation analysis before committing to the capital project. In the meantime, Lester said the city should put more focus on long-overdue projects, including a new roof for the aquatic center and repairing the Greenbelt Lake Dam.

But it was a game-set-match evening last night for the Greenbelt Tennis Association, as the city council approved $194,000 to relight all eight tennis courts, which includes $15,000 for an electrical box and replacing a coin-operated system currently in place.

Funding for the bid, which the council awarded to Tennis Courts Inc., was originally awarded to a different vendor in last year’s fiscal 2011 budget; however, the project never materialized after that previous vendor backed out. 

Provided the council later approves funding for resurfacing four of the eight courts, city planners estimate that the entire project will run about $312,000. That’s about $20,000 shy of what is currently budgeted. For its part, the city will cover approximately 25 percent of the costs, with the remainder being covered by a state grant dubbed “Program Open Space.”

The council voted 6-0 in favor of awarding the bid to Tennis Courts Inc., with Mayor Pro Tem Emmett Jordan recusing himself from voting because of his affiliation with GTA. 

“I think we all agree — you showed by your vote — that this was a worthy investment,” said GTA member Ellen Carter, calling the tennis courts an “extension” of the Recreation Department.

GTA member Stan Zirkin agreed, calling the courts a “tremendous asset to the community.”

Recreation Director Joe McNeal indicated that using the tennis courts may include a more advanced payment system, in which coin-operated machines could be replaced by an electronic "gift card" swiper system.

Councilman Putens seemed pleased with that idea, but only under the condition he get his $3.75 back in lost change to the coin-operated machines.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that resurfacing for the Braden Field tennis courts had been voted on and approved. At the time of this articles publication, while $333,000 remains budgeted for the tennis courts, the council only approved funding to relight all eight courts -- costing roughly $194,000 -- and will take up a separate vote on resurfacing four courts at a later date. We regret the error.