Sandy Springs Council Approves Intergovermental Agreement With Fulton County Schools For Shared Use Of Tennis And Pickleball Courts At Ridgeview Charter Middle School

Post Date:05/04/2021 8:30 pm
During its May 4, 2021 meeting, the Sandy Springs City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Fulton County Board of Education to fund the rehabilitation of four tennis courts at Ridgeview Charter Middle School. This IGA proposes a 50/50 cost share to renovate two tennis courts and convert two tennis courts to four dedicated pickleball courts. The agreement provides the City’s use of the property for 10 years. The courts will be maintained by the City’s Recreation and Parks staff, and will be available for public use during non-school hours and throughout the year when school is not in session.

Pickleball first started more than 50 years ago in Seattle and is a combination of tennis, badminton, ping-pong and racquetball. Players find that it is fast-paced, easy to learn, and great exercise.

 “Over the years we’ve seen a significant growth in popularity in the sport, and the demand for more pickleball courts in the City. Coupled with the pandemic’s impact on getting more people outdoors, this is the perfect time to expand our pickleball offerings,” said Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Director Michael Perry.

Pickleball enthusiasts cite the benefits of the game including: a smaller court size – a Pickleball court is a third of the size of a tennis court, the serve is an underhand serve, and the ball is plastic similar to a whiffle ball and travels considerably slower than a tennis ball. Pickleball can be played as either a singles or doubles game and very popular in retirement communities. The average age of a Pickleball player is sixty years old.

The IGA commits the City to a capital allocation of up to $75,000 for court renovation and conversion, and will be met with matching funds from the county. The City will spend approximately $2,400 annually for trash collection and weekly maintenance. Funding is contingent upon adoption of the FY2022 budget.