HomeMy WebLinkAboutRB Courts ExpansionEXPANSION OF RACQUETBALL FACILITIES
The Cape Canaveral Recreation Complex was formally opened
Christmas week of 1975. Since its inception, the two racquetball
courts have gained in utilization as the game of racquetball
has grown in popularity with the young set. As early as August of
1977, Recreation Director Jack Piccalo was calling to the Recreation
Boards attention that the complex had turned away 2176 attempted
court reservation phone calls, due to 100 percent court utilization
during premium time, for the time period of March 1 to 31-July 3977,
A review of the complexes financial records reveals that
racquetball income has increased consistantly each year, and at
an overall faster rate than the other two offered activities.
Racquetball
Tennis
Shuffleboard
TIME PERIOD PER MONTH INCOME PERCENT CHANGES PER YEAR
1975-1976 (9mon.)
1976-1977
1977-1978
1978-1979
1975-1976 (9mon.)
1976-1977
1977-1978
1978-1979
1975-1976
1976-1977
1977-1978
1978-1979-
$415,13 N/A
503.62 +21.31%
522.11 + 3.54%
623.13 +19.34%
948.93 N/A
845.16 -10.93%
793.62 - 6.09%
585,23 -26.25%
114.83 N/A
49.82 -56.61%
58,29 +17.00%
120,52 +106.75%
In January 1979 the Recreation Board proposed to the City
Council that the Recreation Complex fee schedule be increased to
decrease the taxpayers load and increase the users burden for the
complexes expenses. Fee increases were implemented which favored
the Cape Canaveral, resident to the maximum extent possible where
100 percent utilization was being met in the racquetball activity
during prime time periods. With the new racquetball fe schedule
racquetball income increased to a per month income of
or an increase of percent over the 1977-1978 fisical
year. The Recreation Board has also attempted to increase racquetball
court utilization to the maximum numbers of users by implementation
of a reservation system and through encouraging ladder play by the
Local Racquetball Association.
At the time the increased fee schedule was proposed to the City
Council, the Mayor and several Council Members expressed interest
in obtaining a better understanding of what additional racquetball
courts would cost, of what the expected utilization
and income would be from additional courts and if additional
facilities were required to ensure Cape Canaveral citizens
obtained the most benefit possible from the recreational complex.
This report has been prepared by the Cape Canaveral Recreation
Board in direct respOnse to those inquiries.
The Recreation and Open Space Element, 701 Comprehensive
Plan, for the City of Cape Canaveral lists as a FACILITIES
EXPANSION POLICY:
"Expansion of facilities in the recreation complex, which
through rental fees provide the most monetary assistance,
should be given full consideration."
This report directs the City Councils attention to that
area of the recreational complexes activity.
( MODIFICATION OF FACILITY)
Modification to the Cape Canaveral Recreation Complexes
racquetball courts can be accomplished by either placing two
additional courts opposite the existing facility to the south,
or by placing two courts beside the existing facility to the
east. Our preliminary research indicates that costs for either
of these two options would be comparable and that the prime
consideration should be toward preserving the complexes overall
outstanding appearance verses saving several thousand dollars,
The Recreation Board would favor the concept.
The Recreation Boards preliminary estimate for construction
of two additional racquetball courts is:
$50,000 For Construction during the summer of 1979.
For Construction during the forth quarter of
calendar year 1979 (First quarter of Cape
Canaveral's fisical year 1980)
For Construction during the first quarter of
calendar year 1980 (Second quarter of Cape
Canaveral''s fisical year 1980)
Should the City Council choose to actively pursue expansion
of the Recreation Complexes Racquetball Facility, the Recreation
Board recommends requesting the Cities Engineering Consultants
prepare a firm "Not to Exceed Cost Estimate" prior to the Council's
final approval of the project for any specific time period. The
Recreation Board would consider this expenditures justified in
that it could be used as a basis for evaluation of any potential
bid.