The tennis courts at Bluemont Park are getting a multimillion-dollar overhaul aimed at creating a regional showplace for the sport.
County Board members unanimously approved a $6.5 million construction contract on Tuesday for a project that began the planning phase in 2018 but was halted during the pandemic era before being restarted. While advocates spoke to the need for improvements to the crumbling facilities, the vote also earned flak from a local pickleball enthusiast.
“This project is overdue,” said John Seggerman, who spoke in support of the proposal during a public hearing preceding the vote. At present, he said, some courts are “unplayable at times” because of cracks and other problems.
Though downscaled from the original proposal due to cost constraints, the nine-court package fronting N. Manchester Street is an “attractive, thoughtfully designed upgrade” that will boost the tennis experience in the county, speaker Michael Grace said.
Grace praised the decision to move a practice area outside the main court area, eliminating conflicts between those seeking to play games and those wishing to practice.
Not everyone embraced the plan, however. Among those displeased with the overall proposal was Tim Dellinger, a pickleball enthusiast irked that the renovated courts are not slated to be dual-striped to permit pickleball play.
“Tennis gets a marvelous new facility at Bluemont and pickleball gets bitter disappointment,” Dellinger told Board members. “Where’s our flagship facility?”
Noting that the site could accommodate 24 pickleball courts, Dellinger accused county parks staff of “disparate treatment” between tennis and his sport.
“Some would call it a double standard,” he said.
Caught in the middle, Board members said discussion of the uses of the rebuilt courts was for another time.
“We’re here today to vote on a contract, not a concept,” Board member Maureen Coffey said.
Seggerman told Board members the decision on use had been made as part of the extensive community-engagement process.
“We’ve been told it will be tennis-only,” he said.
Board Chair Takis Karantonis said he was hoping for a future that provides “peaceful coexistence” countywide between tennis and pickleball boosters.
“Both sports communities need space. Both sports are very popular in Arlington,” Karantonis said.
Coffey agreed that finding a way to benefit both groups was an aspiration, but could be tricky in real-world conditions.
“There’s limited resources and there’s only so much space,” she said. “We’re doing the best we can.”
In addition to proponents for tennis and pickleball who turned up at the hearing, another speaker — Bernie Berne — was critical of the plan in its entirety, owing to environmental impacts.
Board members approved a base contract of approximately $5.69 million for Nastos Construction, with a 14% ($800,000) built-in contingency.
The funding will provide for court upgrades, new lighting, a new picnic shelter, restroom and storage facilities and improvements to the parking lot, site circulation, drainage and landscaping.
Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick
