The Caddo Commission meeting is may vote this Thursday (July 3) on the proposed $10 million investment by Caddo Parish in a pickleball complex. This facility will be constructed on land currently owned by the Shreveport YMCA at the Forbing YMCA location.
Some of the following questions may have been addressed in a meeting of the Economic Development Committee, the presentation before a recent Commission meeting and/or in materials provided to the Caddo Commissioners. However, to date very limited details have been provided to the public on this proposed project.
It is suggested that the citizens of Caddo Parish be provided a white paper report on this proposition and that any vote by the Commission be delayed for at least 2 weeks after the report is released. This report should assume that the reader has NO prior knowledge of the proposed Parish project.
Here are the suggested questions that need to be fully explained to the public, as well as the commissioners, before the proposed vote:
1. What will be the funding source of the $10 million cost?
2. What will the source for repayment of the $10 million cost?
3. If the project costs exceed $10 million, what will be the funding source of any excess cost?
4. When will payments start to repay the $10 million. and any additional overrun costs?
5. If the repayment source is insufficient, what will then be the payment source of Parish funds?
6. When is construction realistically anticipated to begin and to be completed?
7. What is the current construction plan for this $10 million facility--number of courts, number of covered courts, seating at the main court, restroom/convenience facilities, club house, parking lot(s) etc. AND is the estimated $10 million sufficient with the cost of inflation, tariffs, etc.?
8. The land tract for this facility is currently owned by the YMCA--will this tract be donated to the Parish for the pickleball complex site? If not, will there be a reservation of ownership of the facility and improvements by the Parish since construction on land belongs to the landowner without such documentation?
9. What will be the access point(s) to the proposed facility, and will the Parish be responsible for any street and/or parking lot paving, etc.?
10. If the YMCA is to manage the complex, what duties will the YMCA have and what will be the fee for these services?
11. Who will be responsible for maintenance of the facility, both routine and extraordinary, and if the Parish, what will be the source of these funds?
12. Who will be responsible for the payment of insurance and utilities for the facility, and if the Parish, what will be the source of these funds?
13. Use of the YMCA facilities requires a membership. Will be a membership be required to use the pickleball complex or will YMCA membership reduce the fee to use the courts?
14. What is the estimated fee to use a pickleball court for one hour and how does that compare to the fees for other municipal pickleball courts requiring fee payment?
15. Will the Parish and the YMCA enter into a contract for management of the proposed facility BEFORE construction commences AND will the Commission approval of the contract be required?
16. To maintain a top class facility, how often will the pickleball court/nets need to be replaced, what will be the costs, who will be responsible for these costs and if the Parish, what will be the source of payment?
17. Will the facility be fenced to provide security and to ensure no "free play" on the courts and if so, is this cost included in the $10 million?
18. What YMCA staff person(s) will be responsible for management of the pickleball facility and does that include management of any onsite shop selling pickleball gear, concessions, etc.?
Some of these questions could be redundant. And there may be others that should have been included in this listing.
My goal is to NOT kill this project but to have detailed information made available to the public and the Commission before the vote. My mindset, and hopefully, that of the Commission, is "what questions would I ask if it was my $10 million to be spent."