CAMAS — The homeowners of Evergreen Tennis are pushing again on a proposed partnership between the Camas College District and america Tennis Affiliation Pacific Northwest group.
Clark and Caryn Vitek personal Evergreen Tennis, a four-court facility at 5225 N.W. thirty eighth Ave. It’s a couple of 5-mile drive from Camas Excessive College, which has eight out of doors tennis courts. The varsity district plans to surround the highschool’s courts in an all-season “bubble” and enter right into a 30-year contract with USTA to run the courts. It’s a plan the Viteks consider isn’t in the very best curiosity of the neighborhood and one that might shutter their 11-year-old enterprise.
“Putting a public tennis center onto an existing high school campus has not been done before,” Clark Vitek stated. “It’s not in the school’s best interest or the voters that approved facility bonds to convert school property to commercial use and give up control for the next 30 years while introducing traffic and safety concerns onto the school campus.”
The Camas faculty board authorised the collaboration with USTA in July, after listening to that the nationwide tennis group needed to take a position $2 million to construct a stable cloth bubble round Camas Excessive’s tennis courts, resurface the courts with the identical high-quality supplies utilized in nationwide tennis competitions, change growing old nets, improve the power’s lighting, present tennis classes and different alternatives for youthful Camas college students, and function a neighborhood tennis hub for paying members of most people.
In return for USTA’s investments, the varsity district agreed to spend $1 million from its capital services fund to offer restrooms and a small foyer contained in the tennis facility, in addition to an upgraded parking zone that would offer a protected technique to enter and exit the power.
Jasen McEathron, the varsity district’s director of enterprise companies, stated the USTA partnership alternative got here on the identical time faculty district leaders have been attempting to determine learn how to make the tennis courts extra equitable for the women tennis group.
“We have a problem with timing between the seasons, and the girls team had a disadvantage,” McEathron stated.
USTA runs an identical program on the Vancouver Tennis Middle, the place the group costs an annual membership charge of $129, plus a $29 initiation charge. Members can then make month-to-month court docket reservations at a value of $24 every week for a 90-minute reservation.
For comparability, Evergreen Tennis costs an annual particular person common membership charge of $99, or $36 per thirty days, per member. Members can then make 60- or 90-minute court docket time reservations at a value of $44 per hour, in accordance with its web site.
Pavilion proposed
The Viteks, who stated they went by means of an in depth allowing course of with town of Camas earlier than opening their non-public tennis heart in 2014, consider there’s a less expensive means to enhance the courts and supply shelter from the rain.
“If the primary goal is to provide equity for playing opportunities between the girls and boys tennis seasons, we advocate for an alternative pavilion court cover providing weather protection over the outdoor courts,” the Viteks said in a letter to the Camas faculty board.
Protecting the courts with a pavilion would offer shelter from the rain and wouldn’t require the in depth allowing or parking zone reconfigurations wanted for USTA’s bubble idea, the Viteks stated.
The Evergreen Tennis enterprise homeowners additionally query how properly the bubble will serve spectators and pupil athletes ready for their very own matches.
“The pavilion would still allow parents to sit on the bleachers and watch from outside,” Caryn Vitek stated.
McEathron stated the district and USTA plan to have viewing areas contained in the enclosed facility.
“There is typically space on the ends, and we’ve looked into potentially having a viewing area in the middle,” McEathron stated. “We haven’t settled on an actual design yet because we’re still in the preliminary stage and have to get a conditional use permit.”
Site visitors impacts
The Viteks contend that the varsity district’s site visitors research has not absolutely captured the variety of car journeys per day the tennis facility would generate on condition that McEathron has stated most people would have the ability to use the tennis facility throughout faculty hours if not in use by college students.
“The high school campus is very busy in the morning and afternoon, with peak traffic periods around 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.,” McEathron stated. “It’s important to us that the tennis center does not operate during those peak periods.”
The Viteks additionally query USTA’s information on the necessity for extra year-round tennis courts in Clark County.
“Our courts are not 100 percent full, and we have room to add two more courts if ever there was demand for it,” Clark Vitek stated. “The Camas population simply cannot support 12 indoor courts. There will be too many indoor courts instantly once this project is completed.”
Throughout its 2024 presentation to the Camas faculty board, a USTA consultant stated the necessity for indoor tennis courts continues to develop in Clark County, noting that there are 20 indoor courts within the county, which is 30 courts wanting the nationwide customary of 1 court docket per 20,000 residents.
A public listening to to contemplate the varsity district’s conditional use allow for the proposed tennis facility is about for 4 p.m. March 20 at Camas Metropolis Corridor.