The City Council is moving forward on design and construction administration services for new tennis and pickleball courts at Newcastle’s Veterans Park.
The idea had been tossed around by the Council until their regular meeting Monday, September 8 when they approved a proposal from Copeland Design Collective for landscape architectural consulting services at a cost of $44,000.
City Manager Kevin Self said the courts would be a good addition to the park and would serve the city residents, as well as the school to use for practice.Self said he is waiting to see the engineer’s design estimates, but noted that the courts would be only recreational, and not competitive.
Because of the possibilities for a partnership, Council member Gene Reid asked that the parks department connect with the school officials to discuss any ideas they may have.
The Council also approved decorative lights along 10th Street and Garrett Drive, which would illuminate the roadway, and some of the walking trail.
Self said this is just step one in lighting the area, and it does not give full coverage of the trail and the park, but it’s a step in that direction.
In unrelated sports business, the Council also approved an additional $7,500 to the contract with Guernsey for design services at the Newcastle Sports Complex. This work has had to be modified due to rising costs during and after the Covid 19 pandemic.
Self said this design work began about four years ago, and was revised two years ago. New revisions were required because of the additional time that has lapsed since then. The City Manager said the City has budgeted for this work.
Self said the work to be done at the facility at this time will mainly be parking and driveways. This, he said, is a first step for that project.
In unrelated Newcastle Public Works Authority business, the City Manager was ap- proved to negotiate with property owners near State Highway 130 and Rockwell Avenue for the purchase of property where a permanent booster station could be located. The City only needs a 25-foot by 25-foot piece of property. Self said a water modeling study that is underway, will determine more specific needs and who would be served by the station.
COUNCIL: Seeking land for permanent booster station
