The Oliver Tennis Club wants Oliver Parks and Recreation to promise never to use the tennis courts for other sports, such as pickleball.
But the board would not sign off on that stipulation in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was reviewed last week.
A draft MOU between both parties was presented at the November 16 board meeting. In addition to discussing the fee structure, a letter by Oliver Tennis Club president Sam Dimou was addressed.
The club wanted the MOU amended to state that the three existing tennis courts will be “preserved and maintained for the sole purpose of being used for playing tennis” and will not be defaced to accommodate other sports such as pickleball.
“Adding lines on the tennis court will render it almost unplayable for tennis,” said Dimou.
With the number of people playing tennis growing every year, more tennis courts are needed, he pointed out.
But Carol Sheridan, manager of recreation, said the board cannot give that assurance. However, she stated there are no plans in the near future to accommodate pickleball on the tennis courts.
Sheridan said there was discussion of expanding the tennis court area (with another court) for pickleball players.
