Carson City's Ross Gold Park to see rehabilitated tennis courts, picnic pavilion

Carson City’s Ross Gold Park will be seeing a rehabilitated tennis court as well as a new pavilion thanks to funds from Centennial Park.

Originally, discussion was held to determine whether or not the funds for the dilapidated tennis courts should come from the Pavilion fund, but supervisors determined that the park should have both.

Unfortunately, original estimates for how much rehabilitation and reconstruction of both the courts and the pavilion are outdated due to inflation.

“Construction costs are just through the roof right now,” said Jennifer Budge, Parks and Recreation Director. “This is the third try to get the tennis court project moving forward."

Ross Gold Park is one of the city’s oldest parks and, with that, has aging infrastructure that needs to be tackled.

Budge stated that Parks and Recreation has worked with the public, held workshops, taken feedback, and partnered with community groups such as the tennis community to update the master plan.

“The final reimagining of the park and master plan came forward in 2019; it hasn’t come to this board because we’re waiting on issues with the land and water conservation fund,” said Budge.

Budge went on that Parks and Recreation has some outstanding issues with land and water conservation fund deed restrictions due to easements that were granted in the 60s.

“That being said, the tennis community has been very vocal,” said Budge. “We hear from them every week, and not just the same two people; it’s dozens of people, who really want playable courts in the community.”

The Ross Gold Park Pavilion was removed in 2019, and Budge said the structure was very important to the community, as it was a first-come-first-served pavilion which hosted birthday parties, meetings, and was very well used.

“It was unsafe so we immediately took it down,” said Budge. “We have full intentions of replacing that shelter, and I think there’s multiple avenues to do so.”

Avenues include multiple grants for which the park is eligible to apply for, said Budge.

“There are other options for pavilion usage in Carson City. There aren’t many options for tennis courts. People tell us they have to go to Douglas County to play," she said. "The Ross Gold Park could be an immediate solution.”

Supervisor Stan Jones stated he believed that Ross Gold Park should be finished entirely, instead of doing it “piece meal.” He stated that he would like to see funds taken from the Centennial Park fund and put toward Ross Gold, so that the park could have both the pavilion and tennis courts erected at once.

“I think we’re getting close to having Ross Gold Park completed,” echoed Mayor Lori Bagwell.

“There is no doubt that there are some loud voices advocating for tennis, and indeed we should have some public tennis courts in town,” said Supervisor Maurice White. “I don’t believe at this time, based on community feedback about what people want at that park, that this is the time to do two tennis courts at Ross Gold Park.”

White said that the tennis community is asking for tennis courts at Centennial so they can host tournaments.

“I just want to point out that the idea that tennis courts are the priority at Ross Gold park simply cannot be substantiated when you look at the survey for the master plan,” said White.

White stated that within the community survey, 71 percent of participants stated they wanted the pavilion returned. 69.9 percent stated they wanted more picnic tables installed. However, 77 percent stated they did not think the number of tennis courts should be increased.

“People have a higher interest in picnicking than tennis at this park,” said White. “The point is, obviously the priority at Ross Gold park should be the picnic shelters.”

Mayor Bagwell pointed out that the survey asked whether or not the courts should be expanded, not whether or not the courts should be repaired.

“I don’t want the board to forget that these are all investments the city has made in the past,” said Supervisor Stacey Giomi in regards to the tennis courts throughout town. “To just let them continue to deteriorate without addressing some of them seems negligent to me. Let’s get Ross Gold up to snuff, and then we can tackle Centennial.”

Budge stated that while getting the tennis courts and the new pavilion completed would be a great step toward completion of the park, it wouldn’t mean that the park itself would be completed immediately.

“There are still things we need to do with the pond, with the turf — we have plans for turf reduction, we have other improvements we will seek grant funding for,” said Budge.

“I think it’s important that we honor our commitments when we can, too,” said Bagwell. “I understand both facets of this discussion, but I really am in support.”

Bagwell also stated that that tennis community for years paid for upkeep of the tennis courts through an association, which raised funds for nets, maintenance, and more, which all went toward the courts. Bagwell stated that there is currently around $15,000 raised by the association sitting in a fund waiting to go toward the courts once they are rehabilitated.

Budge stated that the association also funded, entirely, the geotechnical investigation at Centennial Park, which is needed to go forward in the building of the Centennial Park courts.

“They’re all in, they want to have those courts,” said Budge.

All of the public comment submitted was in support of the tennis court rehabilitation.

Supervisor Lisa Schuette stated that the board really needs to make the Centennial Park courts — which will cost around $1.7 million to complete — a priority at future meetings, because it will help with Carson City’s culture and tourism.

“There is such a benefit to a community when there are different recreational opportunities so I’d really like to see us give a priority to the tennis courts in future discussions and budgeting,” she said.

Instead of using pavilion funding for the tennis courts, the board voted unanimously to move money from the Centennial Park fund to support both the tennis courts as well as the pavilion rebuilding at Ross Gold Park.