Tennis/pickleball courts close for renovation

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Roseburg’s outdoor tennis and pickleball courts are closed for a complete overhaul that is much anticipated by the community.

A $2.5 million renovation will deliver eight new tennis courts, 10 dedicated pickleball courts and new fencing, lighting, seating, entryway and security system to Stewart Park by fall and increased tournament play for the region.

The project is being made possible thanks to a $750,000 state grant won by Roseburg Parks and Recreation Program Manager Velorie “Val” Ligon, $523,000 in City funds and $1.1 million in matching community funds raised by the nonprofit Umpqua Valley Tennis Center.

The tennis courts are more than half a century old yet remain popular with players of all ages and serve as the high school tennis team’s home courts. Their refurbishment means a lot to the community. The outdoor facility currently contains 11 tennis courts and a space at one end that’s striped for four pickleball courts, but players must bring their own pickleball nets.

“It’s really been a long-needed project for the youth, as well as the adults. This project wouldn’t have happened without the tennis center’s fundraising efforts,” said Roseburg Public Works Director Ryan Herinckx.

The existing courts closed Tuesday, May 20, after the end of Roseburg High School’s tennis season.

The grant is one of the biggest ever won by Roseburg Parks and Recreation. The money from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Local Government Grant Program, which is funded by the Oregon State Lottery, will be used to replace courts that are owned by the City but operated and maintained by the tennis center.

“I would like to thank and recognize the Umpqua Valley Tennis Center for their partnership and stewardship of these popular facilities. We look forward to the renovations and serving people of all ages with the improved courts,” said Roseburg City Manager Nikki Messenger.

The project will revamp low-cost courts where adults pay just $2 a day for unlimited play and anyone 18 or under always plays for free. Prices will remain the same.

“Pickleball is considered the fastest-growing sport in the United States,” Herinckx said.

The facility has always enjoyed strong community support. The facility first opened in 1959 with six outdoor tennis courts in City-owned Stewart Park. Two projects to grade that area in the late 1960s and add storm drains and underground electrical wiring were funded with $70,000 – half from federal Land and Water Conservation Fund money that was matched by City funding, said Ligon.

In 1970 during a U.S. tennis boom, six more outdoor tennis courts were added, along with lighting, fencing and drinking fountains, at a cost of $30,000 split between Land and Water Conservation Fund money and City funding.

Interest in year-round play was strong enough by 1989 that the tennis community began to raise funds to build three indoor tennis courts. The community donated $1.6 million to add the indoor courts plus court viewing area, locker rooms, a pro shop and offices. UVTC now promotes tennis in the area through low-cost junior tennis programs in partnership with local schools and nonprofits, as well as offering instruction, league play and social activities for players of all levels.

Over the years, the outdoor tennis courts have been resurfaced more than once and cracks up to three inches deep have been sealed repeatedly. The courts sometimes hold puddles of standing water after rainfall due to uneven surfaces.

“They’ve been really well-taken care of – that’s why they’ve lasted as long as they have,” Ligon said. “The outdoor courts have way outlived their useful life.”

The refurbished facility will include all-weather courts covered with a more permeable, premium Plexipave surface; energy-efficient LED lights for night games and tournaments; new nets and posts; a hitting wall; black vinyl perimeter fencing; and improved seating. A drinking fountain will be added.

“Everything within the current footprint will be new,” Ligon said. “It’s very exciting to get to be a part of this.”

Local nonprofits are currently salvaging any materials that can be repurposed or sold.

A Roseburg engineering firm, i.e. Engineering, designed the project and is assisting with construction management. The contractor is JRT Construction of Oakland. Remaining demolition is expected to begin Monday, June 9, followed by construction. Completion is currently expected to be Friday, Oct. 3, but that could change, Herinckx said.

Tennis and pickleball tournaments are already scheduled for next spring.