That's the official name referred to on the Caddo Parish website--the Caddo Parish Pickleball Park (CPPP). This page has "Quick Facts" and two downloads--FAQ Talking Points and Pickleball Facts.
These pages plus remarks made at the Caddo Commission Economic Development Committee meeting on Monday, Aug. 4 provide the only public information to determine the merits of this proposed $10 million investment by the Parish. Let's see how these documents and remarks stack up.
At the meeting Parks Director emphasized , for the first time, that this development was really to be a park. He did not make it clear if it was to be a pickleball complex with an attached park--or a park featuring a pickleball complex. Seemingly there IS a difference.
Trumpeting the park concept does provide merit to the proposal. Southeast Shreveport does NOT have a city or a parish park. Southeast Shreveport pays a disproportionate share of real estate ad valorem taxes to the City and the Parish. Southeast Shreveport has a growing population that has the disposable funds to pay to play pickleball.
Speaking of paying to play, there is some confusion in what the fee will be charged per play per court. At the committee meeting the fee was quoted to be $7-$12 per hour. The Questions and Answers attachment quotes expected usage fee of $10-$12 per hour. The Caddo Commission will set the usage fee.
But how much of the site plan is to be a park versus a pickleball complex. Renderings on the website do not provide much clarity. The approximate percentage of land to be used for the complex versus the park is important for evaluation of this proposal.
The page labeled Facts & Figures (FF) states that the CPPP will have "basic picnic areas with two pavilion spaces, 500 parking spaces and a walking/jogging trail (approximately 1/4 mile per lap.)" The Quick Facts page states that the walking/jogging trail will be approximately 1/3 mile per lap).
Using either distance, its apparent that this will be a SHORT trail. The Betty Virginia Park loop trail covers 0.9 mile.. The Southern Hills Park loop trail covers one mile. The walking trail at Bill Cockrell Park is one mile in distance.
The complex will have a six thousand square foot clubhouse with seating for up to 50 people on each side to view a pickleball court on each side. No explanation was offered as to the need to have this large facility which will include the Pro Shop and concessions.
The plans include a "championship style court". This court will have seating for 1,000 spectators. No explanation was provided as to how this number was determined.
500 parking lots are in the plans.
The Forbing YMCA has approximately 300 spaces. The adjacent Forbing shopping center has approximately 1000 spaces. Grace Community Church, which abuts the Forbing Y on the north side, has a connecting drive to the Forbing Y. The church parking lot has approximately 150 parking spaces on the Y's property line.
No reasonable explanation was provided on the need for 500 parking spaces considering the number of parking spaces within easy walking distance. The fact sheet states that additional public parking will be allowed at the Y facility.
The land for the complex is to be leased by the Y to the Parish. No details as to the amount of the lease payment and the lease duration (other than it must be 20 years for the life of the bonds) was provided at the committee meeting or in any of the referenced documents.
The documents provide that the Lash Family YMCA (Y) will manage the complex. the FF page states that this Y is "experienced in operating recreational facilities and connecting communities throughout the United States." No other information was provided on this management experience.
What about the costs to operate the CPPP?
The Q&A page estimates $818,000 annually or $68,166 monthly. The costs of the Parish will include insurance, utilities, routine maintenance and cleaning, etc. Long Term maintenance will be paid by the revenues generated by the Parks and Recreation funds. This maintenance will be included in the parish five-year capital plan to update the facility.
The Q&A page states that "the YMCA will manage all aspects of the facility. The YMCA's fee will cover the cost of the personnel needed to manage the facility. Caddo Parish and the YMCA will enter into a management agreement." It also states that the "YMCA will determine the staff that will be assigned to the pickleball facility which includes the Pros Shop and concessions."
At the committee meeting it was stated that the employees for the facility would be parish employees. There is a substantial difference when it comes to benefits provided by the Y versus the Parish as well as hiring/firing options.
There is no information in the webpage documents pertaining to management and maintenance of the park areas versus the pickleball complex. Presumably this will be the responsibility of the Parish?
Presumably the YMCA management fees were included in the operating cost computations? The Q&A sheet states the management agreement will be provided to the Commission--it does NOT say Commission approval is required for this agreement.
The webpage information states that proper security will be constructed to ensure no "free play" on the courts. Presumably this fencing will mesh with the "park" portions of the project.
All in all, the committee meeting and the posted information provide more clarity on this proposed $10 million project. More information is needed as suggested by this article. And the potential for scaling back the grandiose pickleball plans to provide more "park" amenities should make this proposition more attractive to Caddo citizens for approval by the Commission.