 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Tennis center's fate is in limbo
By TODD WRIGHT
© St. Petersburg Times, ST. PETERSBURG -- The city wants to turn over operation of the St. Petersburg Tennis Center to a private business and may close the facility if no deal is struck. "I feel this is a viable way to keep the center running," said city recreation director Sherry McBee. The city, which took over the center in 1993 at the request of the members, has tried different ways to boost attendance and revenues at the courts. Youth, teen and adult instructional programs were started to attract members. The city also invested in clubhouse renovations, lights, new fencing and landscaping. Nothing has worked for the center, which has been running for 66 years at Bartlett Park on Fourth Street S and 18th Avenue. According to city officials, the numbers paint a vivid picture of the decline over recent years. The tennis center's annual membership has dropped from 130 in 1998 to 37 so far in 2001. Overall attendance has also plummeted during that same time period, from 29,657 visitors to 15,243. The city says many players have moved their matches to newer facilities in the area. As a result, the city has sustained heavy losses. Budget planners predicted that the center would cost as much as $150,000 in fiscal 2002, prompting the move to contract it out. In a memo handed out to members of the tennis center, the city stated that the facility will remain open to the public. The memo also said there would be "no significant changes in operation or services." Some members aren't buying it. Harry Quinn believes the city is giving up on the center because of its location. "This is a move by the city to wash its hands of the situation," said Quinn, a member of the center for 10 years. Many members of the advisory board have strong feelings. Raymond Sanderlin, who has been on the board for nine years, believes there are other options. "I look at the Coliseum and places where the city has subsidized and I wonder why the same can't be done for our center," Sanderlin said. "I think it should be recognized as a historical building for the city." Recreation director McBee, who was asked to reduce operation costs for the department by 5 percent, said, "We have done all we can, but this was an option we had to pursue." The city hopes to have a change of management by Sept. 1.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times South Pinellas desks |
