Enhancements Approved for Aurora Park Tennis and Pickleball Courts
On June 8, significant enhancements were greenlit for the tennis and pickleball courts at Aurora Park, following a decision taken by the Newton City Council. The council approved upgrades to the lighting systems for both courts and has authorized the resurfacing of the existing tennis courts, alongside the construction of two new courts.
Need for Upgrades
City records indicate that the current lighting at the tennis courts has been in place for over 20 years, failing to comply with modern standards necessary for recreational and competitive play. The outdated lights are also inefficient, incur high maintenance costs, and do not provide uniform illumination.
Furthermore, pickleball courts currently lack lighting altogether, which limits their usage, particularly for working individuals and organized leagues. Since the courts were opened to the public last year after a successful park bond referendum, they can only be used during daylight hours.
Project Bids and Budget
For the lighting upgrades, the council received two bids: Kline Electric from Des Moines offered a bid of $346,146, while Van Mannen Electric from Newton submitted a proposal of $351,200. Notably, the engineer’s estimated cost for the lighting project was $471,529, allowing the city to proceed approximately $125,383 under budget.
Council member Melissa Dalton expressed concern over the potential for additional changes that could inflate the lower bid beyond that of the local contractor. City Administrator Matt Muckler clarified that change orders typically arise from unseen issues, such as underground conditions, or if the design is not adhered to by the contractors. He added that the city operates on unit prices for materials, which can fluctuate based on actual needs during the project.
Resurfacing and New Courts
The council unanimously approved the lighting upgrades with a 5-0 vote, although Council member Joel Mills was not present for the decision. Regarding the resurfacing of the tennis courts, three bids were received. Minturn, Inc. from Brooklyn submitted the lowest bid at $667,683, while Construct, Inc. from Marshalltown bid $712,110.90, and TK Concrete, Inc. from Pella proposed $820,583. The engineer had estimated the resurfacing cost to be around $850,000.
Significance of the Changes
The city currently has six public tennis courts, which were last resurfaced in 2009. With increased usage and natural wear over the years, these courts have developed issues such as cracks, uneven surfaces, and faded lines, raising safety concerns and detracting from gameplay quality. Council member Randy Ervin remarked on the significance of resurfacing and adding new courts:
“It’s exciting to know we’ll be able to hold tennis tournaments—high school tennis tournaments—where varsity and junior varsity both play at the same location,” he stated, noting that while some schools may be fortunate to have multiple coaches, others might only have one coach responsible for both teams. The newly added courts will facilitate games for both teams at Aurora Park.
