Reston Association Still Talking Tennis

With time running out to put a proposed indoor tennis facility to public referendum in 2012, Reston Association CEO Milton Matthews and Parks and Recreation Director Larry Butler are doing their homework.

The two recently took a field trip to Columbia, MD, where they checked out Columbia Association's indoor tennis facilities.

Columbia Association operates two indoor tennis facilities that feature five courts in a freestanding building and four in a bubble. The association also has 24 outdoor courts for its 85,000 members.

"They see indoor tennis as a strong part of the value to their community," Butler told the RA Board of Directors at a meeting on Oct. 27.

Reston, meanwhile, has nearly twice as many outdoor courts, but no indoor facilities. A 2005 survey commissioned by RA said that 25 percent of 3,000 members surveyed play tennis.

The idea of an indoor facility has been debated for several years. The latest proposal for over a year, and by the end of 2011.

Matthews came away from the scouting mission with six questions for board members to consider. Among them - is there one factor that would cause you to vote "yes" or "no" to send indoor tennis to a referendum? What benefit would indoor tennis provide to the entire community? Would the board expect an indoor facility to cover all of its operating costs?

The board discussed some of the questions, but made no decisions, at the meeting last week. It will cost a proposed $75,000 to put the proposal to referendum.

One scenario discussed at the meeting: rather than borrowing $4 million to pay for construction, could Reston Association get developers  - who will surely build in Reston as the Metro gets closer to its 2013 completion - pay for indoor tennis with proffers?

"In addition to proffers, could we partner with an organization who wanted to come in and offer them a lease?" said RA president Kathleen Driscoll McKee.

Another "what if" asked by at-large director Andy Sigle: Three studies have shown that member assessments will only rise about $5. If RA ends up paying for the facility, what happens if it ends up costing more?

In any case, the board remains somewhat divided on the issue.

"There are a lot of benefits if we have indoor tennis," said vice president Paul Thomas. "There are some things that remain a concern to me - one is the Northenmost location in the community; one is clearly the financial outlay now. I would rather have it centrally located and free. I don't think it is overly optimistic to think we could get it paid for [by proffers]."

Lake Anne/Tall Oaks Director Ken Knueven says it would be wiser for RA to spend money on existing and aging facilities that need improvements.

"The infrastructure is 40 years old and needs attention," said Kneuven. "I know we are thinking of going into significant debt. If you are going to spend money, should you spend it on existing facilities? This looks like a bad investment. It looks like creating something hoping someone would buy it."

Apartment rep Amanda Andere agreed that she is also concerned about "stretching the budget beyond where we can go."

Treasurer John Higgins pointed out the value indoor tennis will add to the community.

"I view indoor tennis as our gazebo," he said. "I don't own a gazebo, but people in Reston build them...but don't use them. I want indoor tennis in Reston, but I am not going to use it. I want a potential buyer of a home in Reston to say 'that's neat, I want to live here.

"We've talked about it, it's about time," he added. "Let's put it to referendum."

That statement met with applause from the dozen or so tennis players in the audience.

In other RA news, the board voted to spend $12,000 to improve Brown's Chapel Park Baseball Field No. 3. More field improvements are expected to come in 2012-13.