County plans $1.7 million tennis, pickleball facility

On the agenda for the next Lee County Commissioners meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3 is the item to approve the contract to renovate Wheeler Road Community Park. 

Item Number 19 on the consent agenda approves a contract amendment with Stultz, Inc., to renovate the park’s tennis and pickleball courts for $1,708,472.83. The park currently has two tennis courts. This project would include replacing the existing tennis courts, fencing, lighting and parking.

“The existing tennis courts were constructed in 2006, are nearing the end of their functional lifespan,” according to the agenda item.

Additionally, three new pickleball courts will be constructed at the park, as well as a larger restroom facility with associated utilities, additional fencing and lighting, new shade structures and expanded ADA-compliant parking.

The project construction is estimated to take a year in total from start to completion. 

The money for the project is budgeted by the county through Community Park Impact Fees, which specifically support capital improvements for community parks.

The original county plan for the Wheeler Road Community Park from last January 2024, was to replace one of the two tennis courts with pickleball courts. After community pushback, the county came up with an alternative design which would keep the two tennis courts, while finding a different location for pickleball. Designs for this plan were released in August 2024. 

The “Plan Sheets” are redacted from Tuesday’s meeting agenda; however, the initial concepts circulated in August are on the Beacon website at bocabeacon.com/wheeler-pickleball/.

The full agenda can be found at leecofl.portal.civicclerk.com