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BILTMORE HILLS
PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND TENNIS CENTER EXPANSION
This
project update is intending to provide community members with a status update
on the project, provide background information, and invite community members to
an upcoming public meeting.
Communnity Center Upgrades
The
Biltmore Hills Community Center upgrades are moving forward. Having completed
the evaluation phase, the consultant team is now in preliminary design.
Tennis Center Expansion
While
communicating the upcoming improvement project to the community, concerns about
impact to the little league baseball field were expressed. After attending
numerous South CAC meetings as well as separate meetings with citizens, the
message from the community was that tennis and baseball are highly valued
programs that need to “coexist” at Biltmore Hills Community Park. In addition,
the tennis community was disappointed with the results of the resurfacing
project that took place in the spring, especially the condition of courts 7 and
8.
In
response to this feedback, Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources
Department (PRCR) decided to temporarily hold on the tennis expansion for staff
to determine the best way forward. PRCR staff remains committed to expanding
the tennis program at Biltmore Hills Community Park. Recognizing the importance of both tennis and
baseball in the community the consultant was asked to explore additional
locations. In July 2017 PRCR staff determined that the northern portion of the
site appeared to have potential to accommodate the full tennis center program
without impacting the other athletic programs at Biltmore Hills Community Park.
To validate this potential HagerSmith Design began a “Concept Study” Phase on
September 25. The consultant will develop up to three tennis expansion concept
schemes that will be evaluated by PRCR.
These schemes will focus on the area north of the existing tennis courts
allowing the baseball field to remain in its current location. The challenge
will be the extent of work that can be completed with the funding available.
Expanding tennis into the northern portion of the park will be far more
expensive than using the location of the little league baseball field. Addressing citizen concerns regarding the condition
of the existing 8 courts would also reduce funding to expand. It is anticipated a phased implementation
will be necessary.
Public Meeting
Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department encourages members of the community interested in the tennis expansion project at Biltmore Hills to attend a meeting on Thursday, November 16 from 6:30pm – 8pm at Biltmore Hills Community Center. This will be an opportunity for the community to provide feedback on the results of the Concept Study and establish priorities.
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